By Teri Knight, News Director
The Northfield City Council meets tomorrow night. The last item which has been a hot button issue is the consideration to narrow the 4th St. bridge for pedestrians and to close Water St. at Bridge Square to allow for more outdoor seating. According to their packet it’s an effort to accommodate social distancing due to covid-19. There are four options on their agenda, the most expensive would cost $14,700 to come from the Capital Reserve Fund. If approved, staff would research using CARES Act funding. At the August 4th Council Meeting, Councilor Delong shared observations from the City’s cameras downtown and observed some limited use of the expanded walkways over the Bridge, however many vehicles stopped to wait for another to cross due to how
narrow the lanes were, 9 ft. as opposed to the minimum 10 ft. You can comment online through 4pm on Tuesday. Here is a LINK to the site. See City Council and eComment. Budget amendment resolution: Fourth Street budget amendment 9-1-20 From that link you can comment on any of the items, they are in chronological order so continue scrolling to the item you want to comment on. (note: you can comment on multiple items) Also on the agenda will be an Oath of Office for the Northfield Police Department promotions since the retirement of Monte Nelson. Those include Police Officer Gabriel Crombie, Sergeant Jesse Cordova, Sergeant Brian Kramer, Deputy Chief P.T. Haider, and Chief Mark Elliott. The meeting will be held online and you can view it on the city’s website. Chief Elliott will be in studio at 8:45 Thursday morning.
Poskanzer stepping down
Going but not gone for good. Carleton College President Steven Poskanzer will step down in July 2021, ending an 11-year presidential tenure with the college. “This is a choice and a change of direction that I have been weighing for almost two years,” Poskanzer told the Carleton community in a written announcement. “I adore this college, and serving as its president has been far and away the best and the most fulfilling experience of my professional career.” Poskanzer said he plans to take a sabbatical and return to Carleton in 2022 as a faculty member in the Department of Political Science. The full press release: Carleton College President Steven Poskanzer to step down next summer
Jerde gets dream of butterhead!
Northfielder Taylor Jerde was a finalist in the Princess Kay of the Milky Way Contest this year. Her likeness was carved in butter. KYMN’s Jeff Johnson spoke with her Friday morning. She said, “it was definately a tremendous experience, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve dreamed of being a Princess Kay finalist since I was 4 years old and my Aunt was a Princess Kay finalist back in 1996 and she got a butterhead and, of course, I have always wanted a butterhead”. And so she did! Taylor’s long been involved in FFA and, of course that meant being at the MN State Fair each year. While she missed it, it didn’t take away from being able to be immortalized in butter. She added, “Defeat of Jesse James Days definitely helped me. I was the Jr. Princess in 2008. So being able to speak publicly in front of tons of people really helped me”. There’s more to her interview HERE and also pictures of her with her butterhead!
DJJD buttons available – Horseshoe hunt to start Wed.
Speaking of DJJD, buttons are for sale! The design includes the likenesses of Manning, Wheeler and Heywood with the sentiment, “Ordinary townspeople, extraordinary courage”. It’s a limited number of only 2,000. Get your button through DJJD committee members and some local businesses are selling them. You’ll want to register your button at djjd.org as Cluemaster Tim Freeland will be starting his annual horseshoe hunt on Wednesday. More details will be announced by Freeland.
