NAFRS approves several motions but sparks still fly
As the NAFRS joint powers board moves ahead on renovating the current fire facility, it’s not without challenges. Mayor Glenn Switzer has challenged the process and told the Northfield News that “Everyone needs to understand this is just getting railroaded through,” believing that the motions were prepared beforehand with no discussion among board members. When questioned on KYMN, Chair Glen Castore commented saying, “the facilities committee puts together, sort of, the nuts and bolts of the project”. He added that any discussion before the meeting was among the 3 member facilities committee. Adding that those meetings are open to the public, “the Mayor of Dundas is able to attend those meetings if he wants to”. According to the JPA agreement, all three
entities, Northfield, Rural and Dundas must agree before any capital project could take place. If there’s a no vote from Dundas, the project cannot happen. There were several motions, 2 of which Mayor Switzer voted against. Using DJ Medin as the Architect and ProCon as the Construction Manager. Those have been the only 2 companies working on the project since 2015 and are the only companies asked for bids on the renovation. The question then is what incentive they have to be competitive. Chair Castore said, “we ended up with them through a competitive bidding process in 2015”. The project is scheduled to begin in 2018 with an approximate $3 million total price tag. The Board approved the City of Northfield issue a CIP bond and the other members sign Certificates of Participation for their costs. Northfield owns the building.
New BB gun ruling means Rice County case is dismissed
Felons are prohibited from possessing firearms, however, recently the Minnesota Supreme Court settled a 40 year old question deciding that a BB gun was not a firearm. The issue rose to the top when a felon was charged with possession and challenged it. Rice County Attorney John Fossum described the weapon as a CO2 powered gun that looks like a Walther 9mm, like James Bond’s gun. The Court didn’t make a distinction between air-powered and Co2 powered pellet gun, only saying it must have an explosion. Fossum said, however, a CO2 powered weapon has roughly half the muzzle velocity of a pistol. In Rice County they have at least one case of a felon in possession, that case will have to be dismissed as a result of this ruling. That hasn’t sat well with local law enforcement. Sheriff Troy Dunn commented last week that If a gun is being pointed at them they can’t just say “time out” what kind of gun is that?
Nfld Council hears Rice County request
Roads, dollars and the Depot are a part of the Northfield City Council meeting tonight. Rice County wants to know how much local support Northfield might be willing to provide for the $520,000 of trail options along County Road 1 between Hwys 246 and 3. Technically none of the area in question is in the City of Northfield. Council will vote on approval of dollars to the NDDC and they’ll consider a request for an RFP related to the Transit Hub. City Administrator Ben Martig will be in studio at 7:20 tomorrow morning with a recap. He’s filling in for Mayor Dana Graham during election season.
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