By Rich Larson, News Director
During their meeting on Tuesday night, the Northfield City Council began discussions for security, operational and aesthetic improvements to City
Hall.
The building itself was built in 1958 as an elementary school and was converted to city offices in the late 70’s. With its long hallways and a lack of public interface areas, it can be a confusing place for visitors. Mayor Rhonda Pownell said the improvements will give the building a more professional feeling and raise its appeal to modern standards.
Among the proposed improvements would be better signage at the entrance and a public information desk to help direct visitors to where they need to go. Service counter areas would be installed in many offices to better serve the public and provide a natural division between public areas and office workspaces. Areas that are more set up to receive the public, like the DMV and engineering offices would see the temporary acrylic safety barriers that were put in place during the pandemic replaced with permanent glass barriers.
The decided lack of safety and security in the building would be addressed by installing electronic locks on the doors, making many offices only accessible with electronic cards. A video monitoring system would be installed as well.
Other improvements would include a furnished public service area and replacement tiling for the walls.
City Administrator Ben Martig said the cost of the project would be right around $800,000, but the city has the means to pay for it.
“We didn’t have the state budget cuts that we might have though, you know, we came through with the economy fairly good and with some federal assistance [we can do this]. We had set aside some cash reserves, so we’ll be able to use a combination of cash reserves and potentially some of that state assistance that’s coming in too, to make some of those temporary measures that we’ve had during the pandemic more permanent.”
During the discussion, Councilor Brad Ness commented that the changes are needed, saying the building feels old and dated and it looks like a school. His feelings were shared by the rest of the council who passed the resolution to set the plans in motion unanimously. The funding will require a separate budget amendment vote later this year.
Still waiting on Archer House Fate
Six months after a fire gutted the Archer House, there is still no clarity for the future of the building or the property. Brett Reese, the president of Rebound Partners, who owns the Archer House said they are still in negotiations with insurance companies.
Reese said his company had hoped to know much more than they do by now. Originally, they thought they might have word by the end of December, but the timelines keep getting extended. He said with all the different stakeholders involved and many different insurers, this could go on for another 2-6 months.
In the meantime, he said he is concerned about the condition of the building. More than two million gallons of water were used to put the fire out, and it has now stood idle in the elements for half a year. Things like mold and the actual integrity of the structure become larger concerns as time moves on.
Reese said there are ideas about what to do with the building, even if it can be rebuilt. Options include a new hotel, with or without apartments and condominiums, restaurants, and entertainment on the river, even suggesting that construction could happen above the parking lot on the West side of the building. But he said, no real plans have been made as of yet.
“We haven’t put a lot of time into that. The City of Northfield is very concerned, or it is significantly on their radar in terms of what is going to happen there. It’s just a dark place right now which is very sad. Right there on Division Street, no activity, no energy.”
He said he knows the city and the public are saddened by the condition of the building right now. But Rebound will not start thinking about what comes next until the insurance companies sort things out.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Brett Reese of Rebound partners can be heard here
Support Northfield business on ‘Girls Nite Out’
And a Northfield tradition, Girls Nite Out, sponsored by the Northfield Chamber of Commerce, returns tomorrow night. The annual event begins on
Friday afternoon at 4pm and is designed for the women of Northfield and the surrounding areas to enjoy themselves while shopping in downtown retail establishments and restaurants. Each participating business will offer a discount or special during the event.
Last year Girls Nite Out was delayed until July and was a little bit more subdued due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But this year, Chamber president Lisa Peterson said, Girls Nite Out will return to its true form.
“It just promotes people coming downtown and experiencing Northfield at its finest. This is a dun town. We all know that because we live here. We’re just encouraging everyone to come out and have fun and support our retailers and our restaurants.”
Twenty-one different retailers and restaurants are sponsoring the event this year. Chamber program director Jane Bartho said many of the retailers will offer their discounts all day, and as an added incentive, every purchase made will come with a scratch-off card. Each scratch-off will offer a prize to the holder. “The more you buy,” said Peterson, “the more you win.”
The Contented Cow will host a celebration at the end of the night with live music from The Border Hookups and Mark & Vanessa Ross. For all the information and a full list of sponsors, visit the Chamber of Commerce website at northfieldchamber.org.
