by Rich Larson
On Monday night the City Council received a presentation detailing the current design of the Mill Towns Trail, showing the 
intricacies of the layout and giving the public a better idea of what to expect when it is finally finished.
The presentation showed the plans for crossings at key points in the trail as it winds from Riverside Park to the Waterford Bridge and discussed safety measures that will need to be taken. Specifically, the designers are recommending push button modifications at crossings on Woodley Street and Jefferson Parkway off Highway 3, rapid flashing beacons at Jefferson Parkway and Prairie Street, and a High Intensity Crosswalk System at Woodley Street and Spring Creek Road. The design also recommends a box culvert tunnel as the trail crosses Highway 19 into Carleton’s Upper Arboretum.
The city has put quite a bit of support into the project, if for no other reason, City Administrator Ben Martig said, than it will make it easier to literally bring the Northfield community together.
“In Northfield specifically, it’s going to take care of a lot of our problems within our community where we have disconnect of pedestrian and safe biking routes. So, it will just make our community more connected. Not only is this going to be a good regional project, it’s going to be a real benefit to our community, connecting parks and neighborhoods that we don’t have connected right now.”
At an overall cost of just under $9 million dollars, Martig said funding is probably the biggest hurdle to making this project, which has spent years in the planning and development stage, a reality. Martig said a request has been made to the Governor’s office that the project be included in the 2022 bonding package, and the city is hopeful to receive support from local legislators during next year’s legislative session.
Both Martig and Mayor Rhonda Pownell acknowledged that the process has been slow, but there is incremental progress being made. If funding comes through next year, Martig said there would be another year to put everything in motion, which would mean the trail could be complete as soon as 2024 or 2025.
To view the Google Earth interactive map of the Mill Towns trail planned design, click here
NPB manager Temple encourages Northfielders to contribute
The Saint Paul Saints are on Northfield Public Broadcasting this evening at 7pm as they take on the Louisville bats from CHS Field. Northfield Public broadcasting Station Manager Sam Temple said broadcasting the Saints games this season has been “really fun,” especially now that they are the AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
Temple said Saints baseball is just one of the many reasons Northfield locals should tune in to Northfield Public Broadcasting. As a public service, presented by the City of Northfield, the programming on NPB is truly dedicated to events, service and issues centered around the Northfield Community.
For example, Temple said he was at Bridge Square this past Saturday filming performances from the Vintage band Festival, which will be available on NPB soon. With the new rise in Covid-19 cases, he said Northfield Hospital and Clinics has submitted a series of videos featuring Northfield locals talking about their experiences with the covid vaccine. As the city continues its push to recruit members for the various city boards and commissions, Temple said NPB will soon begin to air a series of videos featuring current and past board members and commissioners discussing what it’s like to serve in that capacity.
He also the Northfield Police Department is producing a pair of videos to inform the public of programs they have initiated. One will feature Northfield Chief of Police mark Elliott discussing the department’s new body camera program. The other will have him discussing the Lights Out program that encourages people to get broken headlights and taillights fixed.
Temple is very enthusiastic about Northfielders contributing to NPB. He said there are very few limitations to what they will put on the air.
“If you are a member of the Northfield Community, you automatically qualify to have your videos on NPB. But, if it’s something that’s maybe more regional, if it’s something from broader Rice County, most of the time that works as well, as long as there is some sort of relevant connection to the Northfield or the Greater Minnesota Community. And in terms of what can be submitted, anything can really be submitted. This is a public platform.”
Northfield Public Broadcasting can be found on Spectrum channels 180 and 187, or by clicking here. Those interested in submitting content should contact Sam Temple from the Television page on the Northfield City Website.
Public Comments open on new Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
And the City of Northfield is asking community members to review and comment on the city’s updated Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program.
The new initiative was developed over the past several months in collaboration with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The program has been submitted to the state and is now on public notice for review and comment from interested parties or residents.
Like all municipalities with a separate storm sewer system, the City of Northfield is currently in the process of re-applying for coverage under a 5-year permit that allows stormwater to discharge into local ponds and rivers under specified conditions. The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program is a requirement for that permit.
The goal is to reduce the discharge of pollutants from a storm sewer system to the city’s best extent. The program must cover public education, outreach and participation, a plan to detect and eliminate illicit discharges, construction-site and post-construction runoff controls, and pollution prevention.
Community members may formally submit comments as part of the public notice to the MPCA. Details about the plan can be found on the City of Northfield website, and comments may also be made there as well.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
