By Rich Larson, news Director
After five years of discussion and debate, the Northfield City Council approved the purchase and implementation of body worn cameras for the
Northfield Police Department on Tuesday night.
Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott tied up a few loose ends before the council voted. A copy of the Northfield PD policy regarding video recording was included in the meeting’s electronic agenda. Earlier conversations regarding the use of the cameras, when they would be turned on and when they would not be, was a point several councilors had asked about. There had also been questions about the cost of the program. When the idea was first broached in 2016, the program was found to be far too expensive, but the camera technology has both improved and been reduced in price since that first discussion. Last fall, the council allocated $100,00 dollars in the 2021 city budget for the cameras, and Chief Elliott reported Tuesday night that the price for purchase of equipment, set up and maintenance of the program, including data storage, would be just about $51,000. Elliott said the department has chosen to work with a company called Axon on a five-year contract. Years 2-5 of the agreement will be billed annually at $30,628. 80.
Mayor Pownell said before the vote that she was very happy to see the program finally put into place.
“Really appreciate the opportunities we have had to further vet this. Really appreciate that we have a policy in place governing their use. I think it’s going to provide greater transparency, accountability, and opportunities for improved training that we don’t have currently.”
The motion passed 6-1. Only Councilor George Zuccolotto voted against it.
Council debated Froggy Bottom’s license denial at length
When the city council denied a liquor license to Lisa Monet Zarza, the owner of Froggy Bottoms in Northfield, on Tuesday night, it did so after more than an hour-and-a-half of debate.
Zarza, the owner of Alibi Drinkery in Lakeville, as well as Froggy Bottoms, made headlines in December by opening her establishment in Lakeville in flagrant violation of the state shutdown order. Zarza spoke on her own behalf during the meeting, saying that she chose to re-open the Alibi because she vehemently disagreed with the Governor’s executive order, she felt her constitutional rights were being violated as an American and a Christian, and that her staff did not want to receive unemployment benefits, and would rather work than receive “government handouts.”
In the course of the debate the councilors asked several questions of both police chief Mark Elliott and City Attorney Chris Hood. Many of the questions centered around the five-year revocation of Zarza’s liquor license by the State Department of Public Safety, which was recently upheld by a state court. The next, and final step, in the process is for the State Commissioner of Public Safety to either uphold or overturn the decision. If he does nothing, the revocation would take effect at the end of June, which would disqualify Zarza from holding any liquor license in the State of Minnesota for five years.
Questions were asked during the meeting about issuing a temporary license, contingent on Zarza following the letter of the law. The point was made that Zarza had not broken any laws in the City of Northfield and had held a license in the city for nearly two years without any compliance issues.
With the vote taken and the license denied, the question now becomes, what happens next? Zarza could appeal the decision in the courts, but City Administrator Ben Martig said there is much that still has to be played out in the next 90 days.
“Should something change in that revocation, there could be a new application in the future. For example, if they become eligible at the statewide level, it could come back to the city council with that as well. Really it’s in the hands of the Commissioner of Public Safety at this point. Whether or not there could be additional legal challenges, I’m not sure. I guess that’s more of a private matter that we did not get into.”
Zarza still has options in front of her, including keeping the restaurant open without selling alcohol.
St. Dominic’s school fundraiser ‘Saints Night Out’ will be April 17
St. Dominic’s School will host its annual auction, Saints Night Out, on Saturday, April 17. 
Like so many other not-for-profit organizations with annual fundraising events, St. Dominic’s has been forced to make Saints Night Out a virtual affair this year. Last year, the school was forced to cancel the fundraiser altogether, but this year with the help of several sponsors and a motivated organizing committee, the school expects to raise the money they need to fund much of their everyday programming and expand their enrichment programs.
School principal Dawn Biren said the auction has items to meet the interests and activate the curiosity of everyone in the community.
“We have items like A Day at the Farm with a dinner, we have a Chinese American Dinner for Ten, we have hogs with processing. There are wonderfully beautiful donations from our students in each classroom, and there are gift cards and gift certificates for businesses around the area.”
Other items up for bid include a ticket package to Elko Speedway, Beer for a Year from College City Beverage, and a photo session with Cherished Moments Photography.
For those wanting to make a night of the event, both Applebee’s and Fielder’s Choice restaurants are donating 15% of selected sales to St. Dominic’s that night.
Saints Night Out will begin at 7pm on Saturday, April 17th. It is a free event, but attendees must register at schoolofstdominic.org. The online auction will begin on Wednesday.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Principal Dawn Biren can be heard here.
