By Teri Knight, News Director
The Northfield Police Department has taken four reports of stolen catalytic converters across the city. Chief Nelson said these thefts were reported to have taken place between November 23, 2019 and December 12, 2019. The victim vehicles have been heavy duty style trucks and passenger vans. They’re asking the public to be aware of suspicious vehicles or people around parking lots or car lots. If you witness suspicious activity or are a victim: Please report immediately to Northfield Police at 507-645-4475 or 911, depending on the circumstances.
All the Board aren’t on board for NHS late start
The Northfield School Board took a deeper dive into whether the District should go to a late start for the high school when they met this week for a work session. Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann said medical research confirms that starting after 8:30am is optimum for that age bracket. There are benefits both physically and mentally. Hillmann put together a draft plan for the Board that would create an 8:45am start time for High school, 8:30am for Middle school with Elementary school starting earlier at 8am. The end times would be adjusted as well. The District held meetings with staff at each of the schools, held two parent listening sessions and have collected feedback online. Hillmann said 290 parents participated in the parent survey, 626 students (about half the high school population) and about 100 staff participated in an online survey outside of the staff meetings. Hillmann said there were those who thought there was no benefit adding, “every one of the surveys and every one of the pieces of feedback came back to the same kinds of problems, it came back to a substantial concern about after school activities and it came back to substantial concern about transportation”. Benjamin Bus, who also provide transportation for students at Arcadia, St. Dominic’s and Prairie Creek, were at the work session. Hillmann said they had quite a bit of discussion and added that, “while theoretically as we look at this the current transportation system potentially could support the changes that we have drafted to this point, there are a number of different nuances to make it challenging”. To maintain efficiency they would have to look at additional buses, however the District doesn’t want to increase that budget. Not all School Board members are on board with late start. This item will come back to the Board at another work session in January. He added, “I think the bottom line is that we are not going to shy away from having discussions that may surface issues that something we’re looking at could be potentially beneficial for kids”. Listen to Hillmann’s full interview HERE.
Working to remove blight at Florella’s with help of HRA grant $
Florella’s Manufactured Home (MH) Park off Hwy 3 in Northfield was purchased this past July by Riverside Northfield LLC. The new owners, Colin & Mark Zweber, plan to make needed repairs and updates to maintain the park for continued use as affordable housing. Florella’s is zoned for 43 Manufactured homes. Right now, there are 16 vacant lots, 13 are homeowner occupied, 8 are abandoned and 5 are rentals. Working together with park residents, the Zweber’s have completed the initial clean-up of the park and have made expensive repairs to cure the leaking water system. The next phase of their plans for the park is to remove the abandoned coaches on the property. Other plans for improvements include updating electrical service, water and sewer systems. At this point, the biggest concern is to remove the 8 abandoned mobile homes. The estimated cost is about $4300 each. There would likely be additional costs up to $10,000. HRA Coordinator, Janine Atchison, said the Board approved the staff recommendation of a grant of up to $45,000 for the removal of 8 abandoned. Here is a LINK to the City website and the following is additional information: 1 – Florella’s Space Inventory – Dec 2019 2 – Abandoned Coach Removal Demolition 3 – Home Removal Map – Winter 2020 – Northfield MN
