Gov’t building evacuated after package found
The Rice County Government Services Building in Faribault was evacuated for a time yesterday morning after Sheriff’s Deputies were called on report of a suspicious package at an employee entrance on the west side. Sheriff Troy Dunn’s name was on the package along with 2 other employees. Dunn said there was writing on the package that read, “I found this and I’m giving it to the Sheriff and Eric as is”. They evacuated the building just after 7am and shut traffic down on the west side of the building. The Bloomington Bomb Squad responded.
Dunn said Bloomington “had no issues” coming down to check it out, they would do the same if it were a package found at the Mall of America or anywhere else. X-rays were taken and the package was found to be safe. A person of interest was discovered based on discussions with the other 2 people named on the package. That person admitted to placing the package there. Dunn said after investigators wrap up, it will go to the Rice County attorney’s office to see if they feel there’s anything criminal. Dunn didn’t seem to think there would be charges. There are a number of agencies housed in that building with about 200 employees who were coming into work at the time. They were moved to other buildings. By 9:15 everything was back to normal.
Contentious Council will hold special E. Cannon River trail meeting next week
Northfield council chose early on in their meeting last night to go back to a 10pm end time and it’s a good thing they did. To say the Northfield Council is back to full capacity is to say the meeting was agitated before the agenda was even set. On Monday, Mayor Graham and Interim Administrator Linstroth decided to pull items related to the E. Cannon River Trail for the 2nd time. Many councilors were passionate that the trail remain on the agenda and they spent the first 25 minutes of the meeting debating it. Graham said they pulled the Trail because, “not only did certain council members feel they didn’t have their questions answered but there was still some outstanding, potential outstanding issues, with Dundas”. Dundas hadn’t signed an agreement to accept Northfield’s offer of, essentially, loaning them their share of the trail cost. Peterson White took exception to not knowing the source of the 14 questions in the packet. Graham said this morning that regardless of which councilor asked the questions, they should be answered. Another bone of contention was an email he read from Dundas Administrator McCarthy that said, “basically that Dundas had questions also and that there was potential lack of communication”. With Dundas as a partner, he felt they should also have their questions answered. Graham set a special meeting for next Tuesday at 7 o’clock at City Hall. There have been several issues surrounding the trail including Streets and Parks manager, Jasper Krueggel, purchasing wetland credits on his own and already clearing trees out at the trail site before it’s even been approved. Graham’s interview is posted online at kymn.net. You can also view the Council meetings on the City’s website.
School Board will review changes to District’s disciplinary handbook
Among issues coming with the Northfield School Board is the administration’s review of the district’s disciplinary handbook. Superintendent Dr. Chris Richardson said changes will come before the Board at their meeting on the 25th. He said if the Board is comfortable with the changes, they’ll then send it on to the District youth council to review. They want to make sure that it’s understandable to students. Richardson will be in studio next Tuesday with more information.
Second Street West between Madison Street and Orchard Street will be closed to traffic for utility construction today from 7a to 5p.
Click below to listen to the 4-20-16 NEWS podcast:
Listen for news updates on-air at 6, 7, 8, Noon, 3 and 5
