By Rich Larson, News Director
The Conditional Use Permit sought by St Olaf College for the “Ole Avenue” student housing project met quite a bit
of scrutiny last night at the City Council meeting, specifically with regards to the 189-space parking lot that will be built as a part of the project.
The City Planning Commission has recommended that the school be issued the CUP on the condition that the new parking spaces be taken out. But when questioned by members of the council, the definition of “new parking spaces” could not be found, and it was left to interpretation by the council as to whether New meant the entire parking lot or just the net number of new parking spaces, which comes to 28.
St. Olaf Vice-President Jan Hanson was questioned whether the school had considered building the necessary parking lot on the other side of campus, and whether the school had considered creating another entrance to the parking area from the north side of campus. Vice-President Hanson did concede that if the 28 stalls are the main obstacle to the issuance of the CUP, then the school would remove them. Councilor Jami Reister wondered, however, if the removal of those parking spots would simply shift the burden of parking to the city streets in the surrounding neighborhood. Mayor Pownell took that thought a step further. After recounting her experiences with the school as a student, a parent and someone who lives in the community, she said the plan, as it is, is a good one.
“I’ve experienced it all, and I think that these 28 additional new parking spots don’t seem over the top. I’m just not there. With the different ways that I have experienced the St. Olaf campus, I think 28 parking spots will add an additional long-term value.”
The council will vote on the Conditional Use Permit on February 16.
Mental Health a priority for both Draheim and Lippert
A common refrain during the pandemic among elected officials has been the need for more mental health care. Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn has spoken at length about the lack of proper mental health care facilities and his frustration with having to incarcerate a person in crisis rather than finding space for them in a more appropriate facility.
The subject has become a high priority for both of Northfield’s State officials. Representative Todd Lippert serves on the House Behavioral Health Policy Committee, while Senator Rich Draheim is Vice-Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and both men speak often about the need for more mental health beds in Minnesota.
Representative Lippert said it is time to start looking at mental health through a more urgent lens.
“Mental health has not been valued on equal terms with physical health, and so we’re facing that. We need to be making sure that we are training health professionals so that there is capacity there when we need them, and ultimately we need to make sure that hospital systems are making decisions based on the care that people need and not on a business model.”
Lippert has mentioned the fact that instead of adding mental health care facilities in the state, Minnesota is actually losing beds, requiring people to seek help in areas hours away from their home and even out of state. Senator Draheim said the state must make it easier for local hospital systems to provide that care.
“For me I think it’s just common sense to say, if you have someone struggling, whatever the issue is, it would be nice to have that support system close to [family] so they can go visit them. And we don’t have that option for most of us, because the hospital beds are four to eight hours away, on average. But red tape stands in the way.”
Both Draheim and Lippert say they will be introducing legislation to combat the issue soon. .
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Representative Lippert can be heard here.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Senator Draheim can be heard here.
Dundas Dukes announce pledge drive to upgrade Memorial Park
The Dundas Dukes have announced a pledge drive to fund a $100,000 renovation project to Memorial Field begun in preparation for the 2022 Minnesota Baseball Association Class B and C State Tournaments, which Dundas will co-host with Miesville and Faribault.
Team spokesman Mike Ludwig said this is the next phase of a project that began in 2015 which added 105 stadium style seats to the park and brought fans closer to the field. The project, which is already underway, will add concrete and another 100 stadium seats, build a new press box and upgrade the stadium sound system. Ludwig said the renovations will greatly improve the game day presentation, without taking from the charm of the Town Ball experience.
“Town ball parks across Minnesota really hit on that hometown feel, and that old ballpark feel. And I think as we’ve updated, we’ve certainly tried to keep that atmosphere out there. Being in the neighborhood, just steps from Downtown Dundas and Dawn’s and the L&M, really makes it feel like you’re at home.”
Ludwig said construction of the new press box will begin in the second week of April, and the new seats will be installed in May. Electrical work for the press box and the new sound system were done in the fall, so Ludwig said he does not anticipate the renovation work will disrupt the season.
Those interested in making donations should visit dundasdukes.com for details. Opening Day at Memorial Park is April 30.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Mike Ludwig can be heard here.
