With a flip of the coin, Dundas Mayor Glenn Switzer came in for Administrator John McCarthy to discuss their Council meeting. The County Commissioners were meeting this morning on the County Road 1 project. McCarthy was at that meeting where they approved the trail and the underpass. He called it a win for public safety. Switzer gives some detail to the little over a mile road. Switzer says, “but it’s probably one of the most unique roads in the County so it has a lot of special considerations from 3
or 4 other governmental units involved”. Most of the road is IN Bridgewater Township. Switzer said there will be a box culvert underneath the road so there will be off-grade pedestrian/bicycle crossing without being on-grade with the traffic. It adds some expense but everyone has kicked in. Northfield and Dundas are in for $100k each, Bridgewater Township is in for $30,000. The trail will go up to the top of the hill. Dundas has agreed to take over the maintenance of it. Work is scheduled for 2018. Switzer added that, “we’re going to end up with a beautiful road, excellent turn lanes, full 10 ten shoulders so the ag equipment can get through there”. He added that one of the “really great things” is the addition of a roundabout at the top of the hill at Ferrell Court. Discussions have been going on for over 5 years on the design. Switzer said it’s important to be thoughtful about this critical stretch of road that will not see any more work for decades.
Intersection, flood mitigation, rules and planning on Nfld agenda
The Northfield City Council has 4 issues on their agenda for tonight’s work session including Spring Creek flood mitigation, discussion over the Council’s rules of business and their strategic planning process. But first is the Hwy 246 and Jefferson Pkwy intersection. The Study that was done is on the City’s website. Administrator Ben Martig said it will be formally presented to the Council. SEH Consultant Tom Sohrweide presented the findings at an Open House in December. Citizens Betsey Buckheit and Will Schroeer shared their concern over safety. He said , “it’s not just about this intersection, it’s about the whole area”. That includes 3 schools, the Community Action Center, the soccer fields, the NCRC and more. Hwy 246 is county owned which means MnDot is also involved in decisions as well. Schroeer said there’s no reason to wait on short term fixes while they work through long term solutions. His immediate concern is the path between the High School and middle school where it crosses Jefferson. Buckheit would like to see further study by experts who plan for a more complex situation than getting traffic moving and a crosswalk. Tonight is discussion only by Council, no decision will be made. The work session will be streamed live on the City’s website. Administrator Ben Martig will be in studio at 7:20 tomorrow morning with a recap.
Be Kind
Northfield Shares, a community foundation, is encouraging community members to perform random acts of kindness in celebration of the 17th annual National Random Acts of Kindness Week, which runs through Saturday! The worldwide celebration is spearheaded and inspired by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, an international nonprofit that focuses on reminding people of the choice to be kind by providing tools and resources to make kindness more common in everyday life. Need ideas? Check out northfieldshares.org/kindness. Participants are encouraged to contact Northfield Shares to share how they joined in the celebration and promoted kindness. The complete press release is on kymn.net.
