Negotiations continue between Waterford and Northfield
Mayor Graham and Administrator Martig have been in negotiations with Waterford Township to come to terms on annexation money Waterford believes is owed them from their original agreement in 1980. The City Council stopped payment in 2010 after City Attorney Chris Hood told then council including Erica Zweifel and Rhonda Pownell along with Mary Rossing as Mayor, that Northfield had no obligation to continue paying Waterford Township due to recently passed legislation. The Township attorney disagreed and since then Waterford has sent a yearly invoice to the City. In an effort to soothe relations
with our neighbor, Graham’s original charge, along with a Staff member, by this Council, was to negotiate a satisfactory payment to them. But during discussions, they both realized that they want another annexation agreement. Northfield would like to have some land for a low income housing development and Waterford would like the cash. Waterford is asking for the money owed since 2010, plus interest and payment for the next 25 years. That totals $100,000. Ludescher wanted Council to just pay it saying “a deal is a deal”. Zweifel said that “no one is saying that this offer is out of line” and added that she expects full consideration and to work on it in conjunction with an annexation agreement which she’s really excited about. They voted 5 to 1 in favor. Councilor Nakasian did not return to Chambers after the storm break.
Tornado confirmed and some still without electricity
There’s been plenty of storm damage and clean up, Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn was a little late for his interview this morning as traffic was blocked while a crane removed a tree from the top of a house. That was confirmed just after Dunn left the studio. An F1 tornado with winds at 90 mph fell just east of Cannon City, south of Nerstrand Blvd and tracked east southeast. It hit a home on gates Ave before lifting west of ibson Ave. The home sustained minor damage, however a branch completely impaled an outside wall of the home and several trees were uprooted nearby. And an F0 was clocked at 85 mph 5 miles east of Dennison. And there are still a couple of customers in Northfield and outlying areas without electricity. Dunn said there was plenty of damage to corn fields as well and there may be more weather coming tonight.
Death on I-35 AFTER the crash
The Rice County Sheriff’s office responded to a death on I-35 last Saturday near the Hwy 19 exit. Dunn said a vehicle lost control and hit the center median barrier and the occupants got out of the car and were standing in the traffic lane. This was just after midnight. An oncoming vehicle didn’t see them and struck the car and the occupants standing on the road. He said, “don’t stand on the shoulder”. A very tragic lesson. The State Patrol reconstructed the crash and is awaiting toxicology reports
Vincent makes matching gift
Aside from co-chairing the Save the Northfield Depot organizations efforts to rehabilitate the 1888 depot, Lynn Vincent is now donating $10,000 as a matching gift! She will match every dollar you give to Save the Northfield Depot up to $10,000. They are in the throes of raising a second milestone of $215,500 for interior and exterior renovations. Alice Thomas and Rob Martin were in studio this morning. Their full interview is on kymn.net.
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