A man who worked in Northfield is now charged with 1st degree criminal sexual conduct. On Sunday, Northfield police were called to an apartment on report of a sexual assault. The woman told police that 26 year old Tyler Douglas Murphy, her ex-boyfriend, said he was going to pay her money he owed. She let him in but he didn’t have the money, after an argument, he raped her. He had zip ties which he’d planned to use to restrain her and extort money from someone. Photographs and evidence were taken at the scene. Murphy was
located at the AmericInn. He told Northfield police that he had just been released that morning and planned to assault and kidnap his ex-girlfriend to get money to pay a drug debt. He also admitted to a past sexual assault. Murphy has a pending case with the City of Northfield that occurred at a hotel where he was working. In that case, he staged an aggravated robbery. Bail has been set at $100,000 with conditions on this current case. His initial court appearance is December 27th. KYMN will not post the complaint due to the graphic details.
Northfield looks at “data driven design” to develop tax base
Creating a tax base is something City leaders continually ponder. Northfield’s EDA Coordinator, Nate Carlson contracted with Urban3’s Joe Minicozzi, an urban planner, to provide an analysis for Northfield’s current land use and tax make-up. They took every tax parcel throughout the community and broke it down by square footage and efficiency. Carlson said, “they compared our Cub and Target to that of downtown buildings and you find that the downtown buildings, the way they were created, they’re generating so much more tax base in an efficient way”. Minicozzi framed the City as working like a corporation down to the point of measuring the cost per foot of utilities that keep the downtown area going next to what it takes to keep a big box store going with it’s huge land footprint. Minicozzi’s objective is to break down the cost of the miles of utility pipes and roadways that must be paid for and maintained and use data driven design when considering land use and tax base. Mayor Pownell said, “the more that we build up, utilize less infrastructure to meet the needs of the City is financially as far better for our community than if we extend infrastructure out”. The further out you extend the tax base, the more it costs. Carlson said Minicozzi’s analysis changed his way of thinking about economic development for the City and it should carry over into policy for the Council, the EDA and the HRA. Their full interview is on kymn.net and video of the Urban3 presentation is on the City’s website. Here’s a LINK the video.
Dundas elevates Interim Chief Eric Kline to the Top Cop spot
Dundas Interim Police Chief Eric Kline is now Chief! He stepped up to the role when Chief Gordon Mincke retired, got a feel for the position and was offered and accepted the position full time on Monday. Mincke had recommended him from the start. Administrator John McCarthy commented that, “he’s moving the organization in a different direction which all new people do so I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for the City and for Eric”. The position officially begins January 5th. The City is in the process of training two part time officers. They will then replace Kline’s former full time position. Kline is pictured on the far right.
Pat Lamb and Ele Hansen bequeath $2.5 mil
Northfield Shares received a $2.5 million gift from the estates of Pat Lamb, who passed 
away early this year and partner Ele Hansen who died in 2013. The bequest, which will provide for immediate grants to two local nonprofits. Executive Director Mike Krance explained that one of the first gifts was $1 million to Carleton College for the “Pat Lamb Endowed Tennis Fund” and $150,000 is going to FiftyNorth. They also established two new endowment funds, $1 million to establish the “Pat Lamb and Ele Hansen Charitable Fund” (which will fund a variety of non-profits) and $400,000 to what’s called the “EmpowHER Fund”. Kristen Stets and Emily Monahan came in to talk about it saying the tagline is “instilling confidence, courage and character by inspiring surprise and wonder through sport and adventure” . The fund is targeted to Middle School girls that might not have the same opportunities as others. This Summer, the fund sent a group on a week long adventure into the Boundary Waters. Part of the program is to also give back. The girls made 8 blankets last week for Operation Joy at the CAC. Other benefactors include the Library, the YMCA, St. Dominic’s Church and more. 
Full press release with much more detail: Pat Lamb Gift News Release2
