As Dundas Council looks at their budget, Administrator John McCarthy said with all the building the City has going on the taxes for the commercial building will be a boost for the City when they’re added to the rolls. There’s also residential improvements with more single family homes built this year and the Phase 2 of Bridgewater Heights means an additional 170 new home sites. Two-thirds are multi-family, the rest will be single family dwellings. Development will be phased in with
the developer planning on opening up sections of 20 to 25 at a time. Additionally, there’s another small development on the old DeMann farm, south of the City. Nineteen homes are planned there. The Dundas Planning Commission will hold a hearing for a preliminary plat and PUD approval on the 20th. If everything’s approved, the earliest they could start building would be next year.
Nfld BTYR honors former Mayor with award
Yesterday the Northfield Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Committee presented their first Volunteer of the Year award. The Committee unanimously chose Dana Graham. Committee member Brian Edwards said that Graham’s name came up “first and last” adding, “it was clearly visionary leadership that got it done”. It took about 3 years to launch it. Graham said he was honored and added that “it means we did a good job of setting the foundation” to last for many years to come and “that’s the important thing”. While Graham was Mayor he was able to push it through and now they have a network of 300 individuals and companies that are ready to offer their assistance to veterans and families of deployed military. TJ Heinricy created the traveling award which will move yearly to the person voted Volunteer of the Year. [envira-gallery id=”63485″]
Council will hold Public Hearing on Charter amendment, whether it passes remains to be seen
The Northfield City Council was asked to approve time for a public hearing on a Charter amendment. Administrator Ben Martig explains the amendment being proposed by the Commission,”so the Charter commission added language that they felt was necessary to clarify oversight of the Mayor provision relating to reporting of any neglect, dereliction of duty or waste on behalf of city officials, staff or otherwise”. While the provision provides for oversight, there was no specific requirement for reporting it. He added that the sentence would provide for adding a report to the council at the end of the Mayor’s 3rd year in office. Chair Lance Heisler said, being mindful of time, the provision added, the Mayor may appoint and remove, with approval of the council, such professional services as the Mayor shall deem necessary. Heisler said it also offers public recognition to Council of a job well done if there are no problems. C. Zweifel wanted Heisler to answer questions he was unaware they had brought up previously, she then chose not to pursue them. C. Peterson White seemed to take issue with the whole idea, “we really don’t have a choice to hold a public hearing on this at this point, we’re obligated to hold a public hearing on this issue but the fact that I have no intention of supporting this amendment of the Charter really makes no difference at this point, we still need to hold a public hearing, is that correct?” She asked City Attorney Chris Hood, who responded, “Mayor and Council, correct”. There’s a divide between how the provision is interpreted, could it mean to be REactive as opposed to PROactive. Mayor Pownell said, with other Charter issues, they’ve had a work session to discuss matters but that didn’t happen in this instance. The Public hearing will be held August 8th at the Council’s regular meeting.
