By Teri Knight, News Director
Northfield Councilors will be voting on the preliminary tax levy tomorrow night. Right now they are looking at an increase of 3.7, 5.7 or 7.7%. Two councilors are leaning toward the lowest, while two others are inclined to vote for the highest. The other three are interested in the 5.7% increase, the baseline that City staff recommend. As for the EDA and the HRA, they all agreed to fund them at the maximum amount of 4% which amounts to just over $21,000 for the two authorities. Both the EDA and HRA support the business and residential community through various grant
programs.You can comment on the City’s website under City Council. Here is the link to comment. (you’re looking for Items 18 and 19) Over the next several months, the Council will hold budget workshops. A formal public hearing on the budget and tax levies will be held on December 1st. The preliminary levy can be lowered.
Rice Co. looking at 7% prelim, Malecha says it won’t stay there
Rice County Commissioners are also working on their budget to determine their preliminary levy, Commissioner Galen Malecha said, right now, the commissioners are considering 7%. He said, “I think you’re going to see us go down some percentage points, land at a smaller number which means we’re not going to be at 7% so I say don’t get too excited, we have to follow statute, we have to set a preliminary levy. More to come on that”. He said they often set it there but don’t stay there. They’re looking to add dollars into the County’s HRA, he explained, “and start generating a little money where we can work with in collaboration with possibly the City of Northfield, the City of Faribault, Lonsdale on some housing. As you know housing has gotten very, very expensive”. For the average working person, he said, it’s hard for them to buy a home. The County HRA could buy down property and infrastructure for development to lower the cost of a home. Malecha added, “when you go through the whole cost of building a neighborhood and then you’re looking at lots of $100,000 by the time all the infrastructure’s put in and then you put a house on top of it, you’re at $350,000 or more”. He didn’t mention how much they were considering for the HRA. His full interview is HERE.
Decision tree for symptoms of Covid
Northfield Hospital and Clinics shared information from the MN Dept. of Health regarding the appropriate path if a child, student, staff person is experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19. It’s a decision tree to follow if you have a symptom or symptoms that could indicate the coronavirus. It is posted in our Update Covid-19 page HERE.
Nfld Library Hispanic Heritage goes virtual this week
This is the 3rd annual Hispanic Heritage month in Northfield. The kickoff will take place tomorrow along with the Spanish sidewalk poetry competition. The Library’s Angelica Linder shared that, due to covid, most of the performances will be recorded outdoors and will be shared virtually on the Library’s Facebook page. The Flamenco dance couple will be filmed on the Library’s patio. Linder said, “with this being a virtual programming, it gives an opportunity for that didn’t want to come in person or for any reason, they can see it in their own home. That’s for not just in Northfield but anywhere”. Linder is excited and happy to have a larger audience. The kickoff will be live at 7pm on September 15th. She said, “we have poetic guest, Danny Solis, and we’re going to be doing some poetry reading to kick off the Hispanic Heritage Poetry”. On Thursday, the 17th, there will be a performance from the Northfield Arts Guild from Folklorico Mexicano. On Saturday, the 19th, they’ll have Mariachi Mi Tierra. There will also be a workshop for flamenco dancing. Go to the Library’s website to find out more details and listen to Linder’s full interview HERE.
