The City of Northfield received a “clean and unmodified opinion” regarding their financial audit, says Northfield Finance Director, Brenda Angelstad, “we’re meeting and exceeding our reserve policy and our cash balances. Our revenue was very close to budget and our expenses were slightly under budget”. This was Angelstad’s first audit as the City’s Finance Director, she follows Melanie Lammers. With the audit done, she’ll be focusing on the budget.
Franek updates on construction, May fires and more
NAFRS Fire Chief Gerry Franek updated the Joint Powers Board on construction activities at the Fire Station. The basement demolition is now complete and installation of geo-piers is set to begin since the rain cleared out. There were 5 structure fires for the month of May, including the 3rd floor apartment unit at 1910 Roosevelt Dr. Franek said the State Fire Marshall declared the 18 unit building uninhabitable due to smoke, saying it’s a “quality of life” issue. A fire last week on E. 90th St., that completely destroyed an attached garage, has made the home uninhabitable due to smoke damage. Franek also reported on the Wastewater Treatment Plants biosolids building fire, calling it “a stinky rotten fire”. In the meantime, the multi million dollar facility won’t be functional for likely a year. Public Works Director Dave Bennett said he expects to deliver a full report to the Northfield Council in July. The City continues to truck sludge out to other cities.
Nfld Atty elected to Chair MN State Bar Assoc. Family Law
A Northfield attorney has been elected Chair of the MN State Bar Association’s Family Law Section. W. Bradley Frago, of Frago and Lasswell, will begin his one year term on July 1st. He said, “I love family law, I really enjoy helping guide clients through a really tough time in their life”. He said they almost always leave his office in “a better place”. He really likes the “counseling side of family law too”. Since he started practicing, there have been some exciting changes in family law in terms of outcomes. He said there are far more families now wherein both parents are actively involved in their children’s lives. They are spending more time with their kids. The other big change has been a transition from simply divorcing to “problem solving” using mediation early on. For instance, in custody disputes he’ll work with a female psychologist, often Michelle Millenacker from Northfield. He said, “we help parents come to their own resolution early on so they don’t beat each other up in court”. Frago has been on the Executive Council of the State Bar Association for 10 years and loves the opportunity to shape legislation. One area is in spousal maintenance. Legislators passed a new statute that was designed to deal with cohabitation issues, people are receiving spousal maintenance but then they start living with someone without getting married”. The bill clarifies cohabitation in terms of a romantic partner or not. Frago and his wife, Michelle Lasswell, started their firm in Northfield in 2002.
