By Teri Knight, News Director
In a 5 to 2 vote, Northfield City Councilors set the preliminary levy last night at 5.7%, the number city staff recommended. C. Peterson White made the motion adding, “we might need the additional flexibility at the higher rate but it looks like at this point we can make this work with a budget that includes most of the things that our constituents need and expect of city government”. As they had discussed using CARES Act dollars to help offset the levy, Peterson White felt the “one time” infusion shouldn’t be used to cover sustained expenses. C. Grabau said she was concerned about creating a problem in the future if they went lower. C. Zweifel would’ve preferred the 7.7% for fiscal sustainability. C. Ness voted against it saying he preferred 3.7%. C. Nakasian said, “I also would love to be in the position to deliver a 3.7% but I think it’s irresponsible, looks good but it’s irresponsible”. C. DeLong disagreed with that notion saying, “we just need
to spend less”. Adding, “it is possible to go lower, to go lower responsibly and not increase
the burden for later. A lot of people do it at home all the time”. He continued, “the city council just happens to have a bottomless checkbook and I’m not a pickpocket”. Mayor Pownell spoke last saying, “I really struggled with this one because I feel like we are in a different time than what we have been previously with the covid situation and the impact on homeowners and businesses I think is not yet realized”. She was in favor of using CARES Act dollars to offset one-time expenses and added, “we have not challenged our city staff to look for potential opportunities for us to find $200,000 to cut out of the budget without cutting staff. We haven’t asked for that”. Her preference was for 3.7%. She supported the 5.7% but added that she’ll be looking at how they can bring that down. Council will be holding work sessions and a public hearing is set for December 1st to set the final levy. Administrator Martig was in studio with more, his full interview is HERE.
Dundas council meets in new building, sets Prelim levy at 11.95%
It’s going to take a couple of months to unpack everything and get organized in the new Dundas City Hall, said Administrator Jenelle Teppen. They moved in last week but there’s still plenty to accomplish before the November election. With the new building, Dundas Council met in person this week for the first time since March. They set their preliminary levy, “at 11.95% increase from 2020 which does include a $40,000 capital levy intended to fund, over 3 years, a street lighting project”. That project is a continuation of decorative lighting downtown. That number, 11.95%, equates to an increase of $131,408 from 2020. They will also be a public hearing in December before the final levy is set.
Minnesota’s absentee voting system is “very solid”, says City Clerk Little
Northfield City Clerk Deb Little commented on the allegation that there could be voter fraud with absentee voting saying Minnesota’s system is very solid. She said, “when you vote your absentee ballot and you send it back to the county, there’s an Absentee Ballot Board that looks at your signature envelope. Did you sign it? Did you put your identification number? If you’re a non-registered voter did you have a witness? Did they sign it and check your proof of election day registration? Once that process is done you’ll notice when you get your absentee ballot the outside envelope has a barcode in it, that barcode is scanned, you are marked as voted in the system. You have an accepted absentee ballot, you’re voted”. If you show up at the polls to vote, when the Election officials pull up your name it will indicate that you already voted. Little said, “and it’s in real time even up until Election day if they’re accepting absentee ballots from the day before or early voting at City Hall. That goes into a statewide voter registration system”. It comes up on the electronic poll pads. As for voting at City Hall, they are taking all the covid precautions including requiring masks, they have hand sanitizer and social distancing requirements with stickers in the hallway. Little noted that, if the lines get long, which she anticipates, it’s going to take a little bit longer as they will sanitize between people. You’ll get a clean pen to fill out your ballot. She added, “please don’t bring your own pen, we want to make sure that the pens used the ballot counters will be able to read. Same thing in the polling places”. If you are not registered, Little encourages people to do it now. Go to mnvotes.org or get a paper application at the Northfield Public Library. Early voting starts Friday at 8am. KYMN plans to have Little in studio in early October and we will also have our Election Guide online by Friday afternoon. Her full interview is on kymnradio.net.
