by Rich Larson
Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control recommended masks be worn in certain areas of the country where the Delta variant
of the Covid-19 virus has caused an upsurge in positive cases, including 14 counties in Minnesota. The CDC is also recommending that masks be worn in all K-12 schools this fall.
Northfield Superintendent of Public Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann said the safety protocols for this fall are still being finalized. Right now, during the summer learning programs, he said the safety protocols are limited, but he said things can change very quickly.
As it has throughout the pandemic, the school district will be taking guidance from both the state health department and Rice County Public Health. Currently the rate of positive cases in Rice County is very low, with only 11 new cases reported last week. But the vaccination rate in Rice County is lagging slightly behind the rest of the state. MDH said that 66.5% of the state has received at least one dose of the vaccine. Rice County currently stands at 62%.
Dr. Hillmann said, looking at aggregate data, the district estimates that half of their 16- and 17-year-old students have been vaccinated. The number for students 12-15 years old is 42%.
He pointed out that the vaccine is readily available now, so anyone who has yet to be vaccinated can get their first shot as soon as they would like.
“We really encourage parents, and all folks in the community, to talk to your doctor about what the best advice for you on vaccination is. If a person wants a vaccine, it used to be they would have to make an appointment and wait a few days, but I’m fairly certain right now there are a few places in town where you could go and get your vaccine [right away]. And so, we know that the more people we have vaccinated the better chance we have to really limit and eliminate this threat.”
Hillmann said that the district recognizes that being vaccinated is a personal choice, and a decision everyone must make for themselves and their families. But he said they also remain “unabashed advocates” for every eligible person to be vaccinated, as it is the best tool we currently have against a resurgence in the pandemic.
Our full conversation with Dr. Matt Hillmann can be heard here
Dundas City Council gets first look at 2022 levy
The Dundas City Council met on Monday night and the members received their first look at the city’s proposed general fund levy for 2022.
Dundas City Administrator Jenelle Teppen said the process began in May with discussions among councilors about what they would like to see in the budget, and as department heads evaluated the needs for their areas. The numbers then came to Teppen who put together an overview of what the initial budget could look like. What was presented to the council on Monday, she said, was the initial review of the big picture.
Teppen said the preliminary levy is a 12.6% increase over 2021. As Dundas is a growing community, the public works department will be seeking another employee, and she said that is one factor in the increase. The other is the newly re-instated Economic Development Authority, which is levying about $38,000 to help create a fund that will be used to increase and enhance business development. While the 12.6% increase can look like a very large number, she said it only translates to about $158,000 in new money for the city’s general fund. Still, she conceded that the number itself might cause some sticker shock.
“You know, and in a growing community like Dundas, that has a relatively small tax base when compared to our next door neighbor, Northfield, which has a much larger tax base the increase can look and sound kind of astounding.”
As this was just the initial presentation, there is still quite a bit of work left to do. The council will discuss the budget further at a work session on August 9th, and the preliminary levy number will be set at the meeting on September 13th. She said the final levy will be adopted in December.
Our full conversation with Dundas City Administrator Jenelle Teppen can be heard here
Slots still available in Chamber’s ‘Leadership Northfield’ cohort
And the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce has extended the deadline to apply for Leadership Northfield, a newly designed 
program for those “looking to take an active role in helping to shape the future of the Northfield Area.”
The program will meet once a month. Each meeting will focus on a different theme, including Individual Leadership, Diversity, equity and inclusion, Economic Development, and a day spent at the State Capital in March.
In order to facilitate a wide variety of participants from different backgrounds, industries, and skillsets, those interested will be required to fill out an application and a questionnaire about what they see to be the challenges and opportunities facing the Northfield area. The qualifying participants are chosen by a panel of business leaders from the Chamber Board of Directors.
In a statement, Chamber President Lisa Peterson said the Chamber has created the program with an eye to the future.
“A large part of the Chamber’s mission is to help enhance a healthy business environment, and I believe this program will do just that. As part of building community, Leadership Northfield will help focus our efforts on building and supporting a new generation of leaders in Northfield and Dundas. One of the goals is to build the participant’s and speaker’s networks – to help them make connections with each other and know who they can reach out to if and when they have questions or need help.
“Leadership Northfield will give participants the opportunity to take an in depth look at our economic outlook, learn more about community partners, and participate in a service opportunity with other area professionals.”
The new deadline to apply is August 15th. Leadership Northfield will meet one Wednesday a month for eight months beginning September 15th. The cost to participate is $700 for members of the Chamber and $1000 for Non-Members. For more information visit northfieldchamber.com/leadership-northfield.
Rich Larson
