By Teri Knight, News Director
Northfield City staff has worked with Vern and Joan Koester for several years to identify options for proceeding with a residential development project. Formerly known as Southbridge, it was originally proposed by Arcon Development in 2003 and stalled following the housing crash. More recently, staff has been approached by Johnson-Reiland Builders to explore their involvement in developing the property, renamed Bluff View, adjacent to Spring Creek townhomes. Paul Reiland spoke to the Council explaining a measured approach to building three 4 unit townhomes and seventeen twins home
for a total of 46 units in Phase 1, explaining, “we’re really targeting this neighborhood for seniors, which we’re all aware there’s a big Northfield senior market. So everything that we’re looking at doing right now in this phase is one level, mostly slab, some of the units will have basements but they’ll all be accessible, no barrier homes, so no steps”. Part of the development includes the extension of Ford Street to Hwy 246. Something the Council has wanted for some time. The discussion was on funding that portion. Mayor Pownell noted yesterday, “this is really important as another connector or feeder so that people can get out, get in and out of those residential neighborhoods”. The Council voted 6 to 0 in favor of the public improvement project and having staff prepare documents in preparation for the development. From this point they’re looking to have final plat approval this Fall and the first twin home to be built at the current end of Ford St. later this Fall. The plan is to begin infrastructure in Spring 2021. They’ll use the first home as a model. Read more and see the plans: City Council Supplemental Agenda Background Memo for August 4 2020 No. 1 Final
Ludescher discusses Charter, finances and more
The primary is August 11th where the three candidates running for Mayor of Northfield will be whittled down to two. Candidate and Attorney David Ludescher is running. He has a long history of service to the community in a variety of organizations, boards, commissions, as well as a former Council member. He decided to run for Mayor, explaining, “it was the last day and I looked to see who was running and it was Jon Denison and Rhonda Pownell. Though I like Jon, I couldn’t see that Jon was, that the people would see him as a serious candidate or as serious as I would be, so, it was about 4:30 in the afternoon and I told the office, I said, I’m going to go down to City Hall and I’m going to apply to be Mayor”. One issue they disagree on is the Charter. Ludescher was on the Charter Commission with Jon Denison. He considers it, as others have said, our City’s constitution, in fact, current councilors have said that. Just recently, however, the current council, in a 3 to 4 vote, chose not to add the Charter to their Oath of Office. Ludescher said, “if as a Councilor you can’t be faithful to the document that’s been here for 110 years, can you be faithful to anything?”. He also has concerns over the dollars the Council spends, saying the Council needs to reassess their priorities. There’s much more in his interview HERE. We also have an Election Guide HERE with information supplied by the candidates (click on the red button for Primary). Incumbent Rhonda Pownell will be in studio tomorrow morning at 8:45.
Lace-up, the Outlaw Run is back to “virtually” support the Northfield Historical Society
The Outlaw Run is back. It’s an actual run. So lace up, instead of saddling up! Northfield Historical Society Executive Director, Cathy Osterman was in studio this morning. The Outlaw Run motorcycle run ran yearly for about 8 years to raise funds for the Museum. This year Osterman and the Board brought it back when the opportunity to take over the Defeat of Jesse James Days Run opened up. The DJJD run was managed by Northfield Shares but they’ve decided to let go of it and the Historical Society renamed it. The options for this virtual 5k or 15k run are endless as you make up the route and the way you participate. She said, “but you get a race t-shirt, we’re doing race t-shirts, we have race medals that are really cool and very outlawesque”, she added, “so it’s not very different from a race where everybody meets on one day at one time with the starting pistol, everybody goes”. There is simply a lot more choice in it. Anyone, anywhere can run. She’s invited those in Stillwater, “because the Younger brothers wound up in Stillwater so why shouldn’t people in Stillwater be invited. Garretson, South Dakota where Jesse James had his flying horse jumping over the river”. It’s $25 to register and you have from August 30th to September 11th to complete your run. Go to northfieldhistory.org.
