The Northfield city council chose six priorities for their 3 year Strategic Plan, one of which is called “Addressing Changing Demographics”. Mayor Pownell explains, “there’s really two areas that that really addresses is our Age-Friendly initiative as well as the more diversity that we’re going to be having in our community. And so really just looking at what initiatives do we need to be planning for to insure that we are serving the needs of the people that are going to be here in 2020 and 2030”. She said it’s “being prudent” to consider where the
demographics are going based on what the numbers are telling them. Another priority is “Operational Effectiveness”. Administrator Ben Martig said setting their priorities is part of it, “and then we need to balance the issue with having the staff to get things accomplished and also having effective governance of the City council. So what we’ll be working towards is outcomes to measure and evaluate those things”. Another priority is communication with the Community. Martig said residents want information and he wants to know what type of information and in what formats. We’ll have more on the Council/Staff priority list coming up. Also, the City is looking into the high speed internet needs of residents and they’ve created a survey asking about your current service and what you would like to have. Click HERE. The survey will close at 5pm May 26th.
Nfld HRA offers options for residents
The Northfield HRA is continuing their down payment assistance program. Housing Director, Janine Atchison said, “this provides up to $15,000 in 0{b5761be34e80a16b6d0e4dabc1869c131a263f96a745c82bebdd3b8a4330bfa9} interest deferred loans for first time home buyers”. They also offer an income-based homeowner maintenance program that will be up and running by next week. And there’s a downtown rental rehabilitation program for up to $10,000 to help maintain affordable rental housing. Atchison says they also promote new construction. They’re currently looking at ideas for the 11 acres the HRA owns at Southbridge, just south of the soccer fields. As well as other possibilities.
Shine a blue light in the window
It’s National Police Week. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Northfield Chief Monte Nelson said, “where we ask people to show support in something as simple as a blue light on their deck or in a window, and we do notice that. I know there’s a house I drive by on a regular basis that switches between a blue light and a green light. Sometimes he has both of them on. The green one signifies support for our military”. Nelson says they’re lucky to have such wonderful support in the community but sometimes officers are forgotten until they’re needed in a crisis situation. He added that they did choose their profession, “but many of us, you don’t realize until you’ve been in it for a number of years, some of us 30 plus years, the toll it takes on you and your family physically, time from your family, the risks. And we’re not asking for people to feel sorry for us. We just want people to remember that, recognize it, appreciate it. And I think we have that in Northfield”. Saying thank you when you see an officer goes a long way! His full interview is online at kymn.net.
TCL broadcasting live from The Cow
Twin Cities Live has been highlighting Northfield businesses all week, culminating in a live appearance today at The Contented Cow with Steve Patterson. He and his Producer will be there from 2pm to 3pm setting up shots as every segment of the hour long show will be from The Cow. He’ll be live from 3pm to 4pm, whoever is there will be the studio audience and he’ll be randomly sitting with people, etc. Listen to the full interview online at kymn.net.
