By Rich Larson, News Director
With the debate over how to best address the problems with the Rice County jail continuing, Sheriff Troy Dunn has weighed in with facts, data and
some opinions on what he feels is the right course of action.
In the summer of 2019, the state Department of Corrections informed Rice County that the current jail is no longer adequate. Since that time, the County has created a sub-committee to study the problem, heard the committee’s recommendations and tabled the conversation while looking for more options, including a proposed partnership with Steele County.
Now, with the decision due on what comes next, Sherriff Dunn said that the best thing for Rice County is to build a new facility.
The DOC wants the county to add more room for recreation and programming, but Sheriff Dunn pointed out that the current jail is lacking in many areas. There is space in the jail for four maximum security inmates, four medium security inmates, and two special housing inmates. The Sheriff said that is simply not enough, and at times the county is having to find housing for as many as twenty inmates in Steele and LeSueur counties, at a substantial cost.
When the sub-committee presented its recommendations for a new facility, the County Board asked the sub-committee to have an exploratory conversation about establishing a regional jail with Steele County. However, Steele County said in that conversation that it cannot accommodate the needs for higher security and special housing inmates.
The Sheriff said a new jail is the best option for all those reasons and more.
“You’re building everything to meet our needs for now and into the future. Everything will be the same age; you won’t have to worry about having built a new portion but keeping an old portion which will still lead to ongoing maintenance costs.”
Sheriff Dunn said he expects the Board of Commissioners to make a final vote in April.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn can be heard here
Committee evaluating NHS mascot submissions
Northfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann said that the process of finding a new High School mascot is progressing, and he expects a new mascot to be approved well before the end of the school year.
More than a year ago, members of the High School Student Council went to the school board asking that the current mascot be re-considered, and last fall the board approved a process to “refresh” the mascot. The school has received more than 20 original submissions, and a committee formed by Northfield High School principal Joel Leer and Activities Director Joel Olson is currently evaluating those submissions. The finalists selected from that group will be presented to the school board on April 12.
Dr, Hillmann said that when asking for submissions, the committee is looking for something that should honor the raider name by celebrating the Northfield townsfolk who stood against the James-Younger Gang, it should be gender neutral without depicting any weaponry and it should be easy to replicate. Mostly, he said, it should be a modern representation of Northfield High School.
“Our beloved Minnesota Twins have had several mascot changes over the years. Goldie Gopher has had several different looks. And so, this is part of a standard process. Plus, we know that the current mascot is just antiquated, and we know that it does not resonate with a number of people in our community, and so we have to look forward.”
The Northfield School Board will most likely vote on the new mascot April 26.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Dr. Matt Hillmann can be heard here
Rain Garden seminar set for Thursday
And the Cannon River Watershed Partnership and the City of Northfield will hold a free Rain Garden seminar next Thursday night from 6-9pm at th
Northfield High School. The seminar will be conducted by Kevin Strauss of the CRWP, Cole Johnson, the Water Quality Technician for the City of Northfield and Curt Coudron, the with the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Participants will learn where to put a rain garden, how to choose the right plants, and what sort of rebate programs are offered by the city and the county to help offset the cost of installing one.
Strauss said Rain Gardens are an important tool in keeping the Cannon River clean. The deep root systems of the native plants help the soil to soak up storm water before it can gather damaging elements as it runs into the river.
“One of the big challenges we have with storm water runoff flowing into the river is that it flows across a driveway or a street and it moves very quickly, picking up salt, or sediment, or oil. And then those things go right down the storm drain system and all the storm drains in Northfield go right to the Cannon River.”
The City of Northfield offers a variety of rebates on things like equipment rental and materials for installing a rain garden, as well as rebates for a native plant garden, and for purchasing rain barrels.
The seminar will be conducted in person and indoors at the high school. Covid-19 health protocols will be in place. To register for the seminar, visit northfield.cr3.rschooltoday.com. A link to the seminar registration page can be found here.
