In November, Northfield residents will vote on a school referendum, with 2 questions. One is for an operating levy of about $2 million, the other a bond referendum for $109 million for 2 news schools, Greenvale Elementary and a High School. The District has added a button on the front page of their website that links to a lot more specific information, including an opportunity to send questions to Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann. They just added a 19 minute video presentation that is similar to Hillmann’s presentation he’ll be
giving to the community and other organizations, as well as an initial FAQ document. They’ve scheduled 2 community wide presentations on September 18th and October 16th at 7pm at the Northfield High School auditorium. They are finalizing a guide on both issues to be delivered to your mailbox toward the end of the month.
Nfld Council tackling contentious issues
The Northfield City Council is back to work tonight. On their agenda Council will hear a request from Northfield Hospital and Clinics to approve a Commercial Lease for clinic space at 700 Division Street. They plan to establish a downtown clinic in the Sterling Pharmacy building. This clinic would provide easy access, no appointment services at more convenient hours into the evening and on weekends. A couple of contentious items include approval of the first reading for the requested Charter amendment that would require the Mayor to report to the Council on operations of the City once per term. Some councilors have already said they’d vote against it. Mayor Pownell and Administrator Martig are requesting the Council reject Waterford Township’s request for a lump sum payment of nearly $32,000 for an annexation agreement formed in 1980. In 2010, the Legislature gave those agreements an end-date of 6 years. Northfield quit paying in 2011. Waterford and Nfld have been going back and forth ever since. On August 9th, the township requested the City pay what they believe is owed and continue the agreement, which averages around $5,000 a year, in perpetuity. Pownell and Martig are asking instead, that council allow Martig to ask Waterford to participate in mediation through the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). They’ll both be in studio tomorrow morning at 7:20 with a recap.
Graveside service, Heywood Winner banquet, Townie Night
It’s Defeat of Jesse James Days week and tomorrow will begin with Graveside Services for Joseph Lee Heywood and Nicolaus Gustavson. They gave their lives on September 7th, 1876. Joseph Lee Heywood, who was the acting cashier at the 1st National Bank, was killed by the robbers and Nicolaus Gustavson, a Swedish immigrant, was killed in the crossfire on the street. The tribute begins at noon at the Northfield Cemeteryl. This year’s Heywood Winner, Greg Langer, will be honored tomorrow night at the Northfield Ballroom and then it’s Townie Night. The Northfield Historical Society invites you, on Thursday, to “A Toast to the Townies” from 6:30 to 8pm at the Museum on Division St. There will be light hors d’oeuvres as well as samples from Imminent Brewing and Tanzenwald Brewing Company. All ages are welcome, but a valid ID and a monetary donation are required if you plan on sampling the brew.
