Two citizens spoke at Northfield Council’s public hearing on the 2018 Street assessments. They each live along Washington Street, which will receive a mill and overlay between 2nd Street and Woodley later this summer. Brett Reese, who lives at 2nd street, said the road was just redone when the library was renovated and questioned if it really needed to be done again. David Ludescher, who lives on the other end near 9th street said, a mill and overlay is not an improvement but a maintenance matter of the City’s. He says it will not
increase his property value “one bit” and believes the assessments are unfair. Council moved to close the hearing and started to vote when City Attorney Chris Hood interrupted them to say they could not close the hearing due to Ludescher’s formal objection. Ludescher left the meeting before he could be questioned further by Council. The issue of whether to look further into Ludescher’s assertions went back and forth between councilors for about 15 minutes. Public Works Director Dave Bennett maintaining that there IS a benefit to the homeowner. Hood told Council that the only reason they would recess and reconvene the hearing would be if they feel they needed more information to on the objection. In the end the vote was 5 to 2 to close the hearing and find Ludescher’s objection not well founded and take no action on it. The issue of how property owners are assessed comes up each year. Ludescher can still appeal to a district judge.
Weddings are an economic driver
Northfield is becoming a wedding destination. The Gardens of Castle Rock is hosting a wedding vendor fair this Thursday. Owner Glenn Switzer explains there are 11 venues in the area represented and 40 to 45 support vendors such as caterers, music, planners, photographers and much more! Switzer said weddings have changed a lot over the years, it’s includes more about the experience. The ceremony is the most important part however, “but when you brings those 200/300 family and friends together, it’s like people are traveling, people are there they want more than just a 10 min. ceremony”. They’ll be doing a Hindu wedding this summer which will last 3 days. Switzer said the key is the opportunities in the Northfield area, “there is everything here from our downtown, kind of that urban feel with Armory Square and The Grand, you can get that cool downtown feeling. We have amazing barns, Golden Oak and Wasner and Good Tree and the Red Barn where you can get that feel. And Country clubs and Golf courses and so we run the whole gamut”. He said they’re excited with the new hotel opening up later in summer to add to those who stay in the area. Switzer said, “it’s a big economic driver for the area, we’ll have over 15,000 people at The Gardens this year and we’re just one of the 11 or 12 venues”. Switzer said they’ve partnered with By All Means Graphics who is producing The Northfield Wedding Guide, “it’s a 40 page magazine with stories and pictures and advertisers. This is one, that if you’re getting married in the next two years, find it, pick it up, save it because it will be your reference guide for anything you need”. The Wedding Vendor Fair is this Thursday from 4pm to 7pm at The Gardens of Castle Rock on Hwy 3.
Northfield EDA offers Micro-grants
Three local businesses received micro-grants from the Northfield EDA. $5,000 grants were awarded to Hot Spot Music, , Northfield Physical Therapy and Northfield Yarn . all of whom will be remodeling and expanding. The Micro-grant Program is part of the EDA’s business support program and can be used for a wide variety of purposes. The Northfield Enterprise Center (NEC) also provides coaching opportunities for new business and coordinates initial discussions on micro-grant opportunities. For more information, reach out to Chris Whillock at 507-339-0336 or at the Northfield Business & Tourism Center at 19 Bridge Square.
