by Rich Larson, news Director
Parts of Division Street will be blocked off later this week due to the continuing investigation into the Archer House fire. 
The city will close Division Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as heavy equipment is brought in to extract items from the interior of the building to facilitate part of the insurance investigation.
In a statement released yesterday, Rebound Partners, the company that owns the Archer House said the process will entail potential additional structural damage to the building, but “the parties involved in the removal of these items are committed to minimizing additional damage to the building where possible.”
The statement said that the investigation is in its final stages, and when complete the insurance company will inform Rebound whether the building is a partial or total loss. Obviously there have been many questions about the future of the building and the site. Once the insurance company has presented its findings, Rebound will decide if the building should be restored, torn down and replaced, or if the site itself will be redeveloped. The statement went on to say that the company is currently considering options for all outcomes of the investigation, and that they will be working with the City of Northfield and other interested parties in the decision-making process.
Finally, the statement once again thanked the community for the interest and support that the company has received, acknowledging the difficulty of a municipal asset like the Archer House being “silent and dark” for nearly four months.
Draheim warns against rent control
As chair of the Senate Housing Finance and Policy Committee, State Senator Rich Draheim has focused quite a bit of attention lately on the state and federal eviction moratoriums.
The Senator said he has heard testimony in his committee about the need to modify those moratoriums to allow for what he called “bad actors” to be removed from where they live. Draheim said that landlords should have the ability to remove people who commit crimes or damage property, and that there is a need for a compromise in these matters.
Complicating things, he said, is the recent decision by the Minneapolis City Council to consider rent control measures in order to regulate rent increases. The Senator believes that rent control is a bad idea that would only make things worse. He said that part of the reason rents are so high is because of the shortage of housing in the state. Studies have shown, he said, that rent control ordinances can impede the building of more housing. Moreover, he said, rent control goes against one of the basic tenants upon which this country was founded.
“We’re talking about private property. So, what trumps private property? Now, if the city wants to build their own apartment and charge whatever they want, they can. No problem. They just can’t dictate to private property owners – basic property rights. One of the foundations of our country, one of the things it was built on, is property rights. And that’s what we’re trying to protect.”
Currently, Minnesota state statute does not allow for rent control ordinances, but the Senator said there is a loophole in that statute. Draheim said he is introducing a bill into his committee that would close the loophole. The Senator said his bill has bi-partisan support.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Senator Draheim can be heard here.
Kathy Zeman appointed to the Rice Soil & Water Conservation District Board
And the Rice Soil and Water Conservation District has announced the appointment of Kathy Zeman to the District’s Board of Supervisors. Zeman will represent District 3. That seat became open when former supervisor Jim Purfeerst was elected to the Rice County Board of Commissioners in November.
Zeman has owned a farm in the Prairie Creek Watershed since 2006. She has volunteered with the Cannon River Sustainable Farming Association, served on the University of Minnesota’s Institute for Sustainable Agriculture board, and has worked with several other organizations dedicated to sustainable agricultural practices. She has implemented sustainable conservation practices on her own farm and is in the process of having that farm certified as organic.
Zeman’s appointment will expire at the end of 2022. The next Rice SWCD board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 10th at 9am. The meeting will take place via Zoom. Find a link for that meeting here.
