By Teri Knight, News Director
Last month, the Northfield Housing and Redevelopment Authority discussed their down payment assistance loan program for first time homebuyers. Housing Coordinator Janine Atchison said in talking with other Cities and organizations, some are advocating loans of $60,000 to $100,000 to first time homebuyers, however, she said, “but in talking with people who actually administer assistance loans, what I did find is that to go up to the $30,000 and greater then it starts putting other strings attached that make it very difficult for a lot of families to get a loan”. She reports that the City made only one down payment assistance (DPA) loan in 2019. Although there is no lack of interest in homeownership, Atchison added, the purchase price of housing in Northfield is beyond the mortgage capacity of households at 80{b5761be34e80a16b6d0e4dabc1869c131a263f96a745c82bebdd3b8a4330bfa9} or less of the area median income. HRA members
unanimously approved raising the down payment assistance loan from $15,000 to $25,000 due to the high prices within the City.
Draheim would like to use surplus $ to lower taxes
The bonding bill will take up most of the legislative session says District 20 Senator Rich Draheim. The Republicans are looking to lower taxes, saying, “we’ve doubled our spending in the last decade, had seven straight years of surpluses, our rainy day account is full with … cash, it’s like $2.6 billion and I think it’s time we have to reevaluate what fees and taxes we’re collecting”. In particular he’d like to protect Senior Citizens with fixed incomes from higher taxes. It’s an election year, with a lot of division on a national level. As for local politics, he said they get along better than what’s portrayed in the media, particularly in the Senate. Draheim said, “80{b5761be34e80a16b6d0e4dabc1869c131a263f96a745c82bebdd3b8a4330bfa9} of my bills are bipartisan. The only way you get things done is to work together. You have to build relationships, not only within your own party in the Senate but across the aisle but then there’s the House, so you also have to work with a lot of different members there”. Senator Draheim will be reporting every Monday morning at 7:20 on KYMN throughout the legislative session.
Presidential Primary, precinct caucuses and Township elections
There is no Northfield Council meeting tomorrow or March 3rd, as that’s Super Tuesday. For the first time in 30 years, Minnesota will hold a Presidential Primary. Four major parties in Minnesota will participate. The chair of each party submitted a list of candidates for their ballot. Those names will appear on the ballot even if they’ve dropped out of the presidential race before March 3rd. Parties will use the primary results to choose the delegates. Precinct caucuses are tomorrow and are divided by party lines. Township elections are March 10th. Be sure to check with your local township hall for details. Link to Rice County Townships is HERE. Link to Dakota County Cities and Townships is HERE. Waterford Township will be holding their annual meeting that night after polls close at 8 o’clock.
Nfld Child Nutrition pilot program to reduce food waste
The Northfield School Child Nutrition Program has been working with the Northfield Community Action Center to develop a food recovery program. A pilot began on February 20 at the middle school. Fresh produce left over after service that can’t be reused at the school will be picked up by volunteers and brought to the Community Action Center twice per week. Their goal is that these foods will be turned into fresh vegetable trays for local families to take home; increasing consumption of fresh produce and further reducing food waste. Stephany Stromme will discuss more at the School Board meeting tonight. There are numerous budget items as well. Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann will be in studio at 7:20 tomorrow morning with a full recap.
Gisme to be honored
Mac Gisme will be honored tonight at 50North as the 2020 Living Treasure. Doors open at 7pm with a program at 7:30pm. The community is invited to honor Gisme as he receives the award.
