Dundas joined Northfield in approving a resolution to oppose the legislature’s Preemption laws. Administrator John McCarthy says their biggest concerns are proposals that would limit the City’s ability to plan their own future and proposals to allow cell towers to be placed in City Rights-of-Way. All of the new developments in Dundas have their utilities underground. That law could potentially allow cell companies to erect poles in the middle of them. McCarthy
said, while some of the legislators ideas may be somewhat agreeable, they don’t want to lose local control. He looked up the first ordinance Dundas passed, it was in 1879 and was a liquor license for $50. One hundred thirty eight years later, Dundas charges $2,000.
Hillmann reflects on SNAP challenge
Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann and his family took the community Action Center’s SNAP Challenge. Living on $5 a day for a week, to more fully understand what it’s like to live on SNAP, formerly known as foodstamps. Hillmann has a family of five, he talked about having to be intentional when shopping. An early reflection is how fortunate we are in Northfield because, “if our kids were able to receive free or reduced lunch benefit that is provided by state and federal government, and our church, St. Dominic Church has a weekly supper and then there’s Thursday’s Table”. That’s a community dinner offered by the CAC. He says without those community connections, it would be a very tight budget. They also noticed the privilege that many have which is a freezer that allows them to buy foods on sale and stock up. Without the ability to do long term planning, it adds complexity. Hillmann hopes the SNAP Challenge raises yet more awareness of food insecurity within our own small borders. Go to communityactioncenter.org to learn more, read the reflections of those taking the challenge and most importantly to donate. Your dollar is tripled as the CAC is able to buy from a Food Bank.
Rise in mental health crises prompts more Officer training
The Northfield Police department is hosting a training course tomorrow. Chief Nelson said in the last 10 to 15 years they’ve had such an increase in young combat veterans coming back into our communities, some with traumatic brain injuries, some with PTSD or other affiliated issues. Officers previously received training called “Vets in Crisis”, they’ve renamed it “De-escalation Strategies”. Across the country, law enforcement are seeing the need to teach their officers how to verbally deescalate a situation with someone who’s in mental health crisis, someone who could be high on drugs or drunk, have a traumatic brain injury or might be suffering PTSD. Nelson said these situations happen daily and can be the most difficult to handle. They can’t arrest themselves out of it. He said, “you have to have other tools, one to deal with it on the front end but one of the other things, after we deescalate, then what, where do you take them, how do you get them help beyond what our Officers can do?”. That’s a whole other discussion. Jailing those with mental health issues isn’t helping them but hospitals and emergency rooms only have so much room. This was a commitment Northfield Police made when the City became a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon city. Officers from the surrounding communities will be attending along with Northfield police. Legislation is moving to require officers to have 48 hours of continuing education every 3 years that includes crisis intervention, de-escalation and working with the communities minorities. Northfield Beyond the Yellow Ribbon will generously provide lunch to the attending officers. Nelson’s expecting about 40. UMCPI – CLASS MN Training Flyer Northfield 3-30-2017
