By Rich Larson, News Director
Residents of a building at the Hidden Valley Apartment complex have been temporarily displaced after a fire broke out yesterday afternoon. 
Two people who live in the building at 2110 Hidden Valley Road reported the fire alarm going off at about 3:15 yesterday afternoon, followed by the intense smell of smoke.
The resident of the basement apartment in the northwest corner of the building said he had been charging batteries in his bedroom, underneath his bed when one of them exploded, setting the bed on fire. Northfield Fire Chief Gerry Franek said when firefighters arrived there were flames and intense heat in the apartment, but they were able to contain the fire before it spread to another part of the building.
The Chief said there did not appear to be structural damage to the building, although there was severe smoke damage in at least one of the hallways. The building is being evaluated and cleaned. A message to residents from the building management said they would be able to return home in a day or two.
Chief Franek said there were no injuries.
Local Legislators talk about state budget deal
State legislative leaders were able to come to basic agreements yesterday on the state budget.
While those agreements came too late to avoid a special session, the legislators were able to agree on tax relief for recipients of Payroll Protection Loans and Covid related unemployment benefits. Yesterday was the deadline to file income taxes, but the Department of Revenue was looking into ways for people benefitting from the agreement to not have to re-file their taxes.
The real compromise between the Democrat controlled House of Representatives and the Republican controlled Senate seems to revolve around tax increases and education funding. There was no sign of the DFL proposed fifth tier tax bracket, which would have raised taxes on Minnesotans making more than $1 million dollars a year. In fact, Republican Senate majority Leader Paul Gazelka hailed the agreement by pointing out that it includes more than $1 billion dollars in tax relief. State Senator Rich Draheim said that, based on spending levels of the last several years, he could not see any reason why there should have been a tax increase.
“We’ve had seven years of surplus along with seven years of increased spending. So, it’s not like we’ve slashed the budgets and haven’t been spending. We’ve been spending at an alarming rate. We’re doubling the budget every ten years.”
Meanwhile the DFL leadership was very pleased to have increased school funding. The House has been looking for an increase that would put school
funding ahead of inflation, and Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman said that the state is making an “historic” investment in education.
Representative Todd Lippert said overall, he was pleased with the agreement.
“Because of the combination of relief funds from the Biden administration and the Democrats in Congress to provide one time funding, we were able to combine that with state funding to really deliver for our schools and our students, and our small businesses, those who have been on unemployment; for those who have been hurting the most. So, I’m really encouraged. I think this is going to be a good budget for Minnesota going forward.”
With the legislature constitutionally required to have adjourned at midnight last night, there are still many details to work out. Lippert said conference committees will continue to work after the adjournment. One report said the committees have until June 4 to finish their work. Final votes on the budget will happen during the special session, which will most likely be June 14th.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Senator Rich Draheim can be heard here
District’s Anita Aase named Administrative Assistant of the Year
The Northfield Public School District announced last week that Anita Aase, the Executive Administrative Assistant to Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann and the Board of Education, has been named the 2021 Administrative Assistant of the Year by the Minnesota Superintendents Office Personnel Association.
Dr. Hillmann said Aase, who has been with the district since 2018, has been instrumental in several important areas. While serving on the Project Oversight Committee, she handled much of the communication between the school district and the construction companies working on the various projects like the new Greenvale Elementary school and the conversion of the former Longfellow School to the District Offices.
Last December, Aase was a central figure in helping to design the pilot Covid-19 testing program that the district put together in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health. She coordinated the staff vaccination program with Northfield Hospital & Clinics and is now working on the student testing program.
Hillmann said Aase’s job title of Administrative Assistant does not quite fit the role she fills.
“She really is the Chief of Staff. She really acts in that way and is just an ideal partner for the work that we do. She is so responsive and helpful to the board. So, on behalf of the Board of Education, we congratulate Anita, and we are so grateful that she has chosen to share he tremendous skill with Northfield Public Schools.”
Dr. Hillmann said Aase is the epitome of professionalism and is thrilled that she has received this prestigious statewide honor.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Dr. Matt Hillmann can be heard here
