by Rich Larson
During this year’s legislative session, the House and Senate agreed to use $250 million of the money the state received from the
American Rescue Plan to pay Covid-19 frontline workers a bonus. The idea was to put together a joint working group of three Senators, three Representatives, and three members of Governor Walz’s administration who could work through the summer to determine who should receive the money, and how much they should be paid. The governor would then call a special session, which had been tentatively planned for September 14, the legislature would approve the agreement, and checks would go out shortly thereafter.
Unfortunately, like every other negotiation at the legislature this year, the conversations became contentious, and the Republicans and Democrats disagreed down party lines. Not only did the working group miss its Labor Day deadline to come to an agreement, but three weeks past the deadline there has been no movement from either side.
At issue is the question of what constitutes a frontline worker. Republicans are holding that the money should go to the health care workers in hospitals and long-term care facilities, while democrats favor a broader dispersal to include food production workers, childcare workers, and even truck drivers.
State Senator Rich Draheim said he favors the money going strictly to heath care workers for several reasons.
He pointed to the shortage of health care workers the state is experiencing. If nothing changes, he said, things will only get worse, and the state should be doing everything it can to keep those people in their chosen careers.
He also made the simple case that, for the payments to be enough to really help, there must be fewer people who are eligible. The more people on the list, he said, the smaller the payments will be.
“The more people you add, the less dollars go out [to them]. So, do you want a whole bunch of people to get $40? Obviously, people that work in a hospital setting, a nursing home setting, first responders, those would be my first three choices.”
While the workgroup remains in place, no further information has been made available, and the planned special session now seems unlikely to happen.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with State Senator Rich Draheim can be heard here
Kraewood discussion reaches the City Council
During their regular meeting tonight, the Northfield City Council will discuss and vote on a resolution to approve the preliminary plat of the Kraewood development on the former Paulson Tree Farm property.
Local developers Rebound Partners and Schmidt Homes, along with the Stencil Group, are proposing to build 22 single and multi-family homes along with a 100-unit apartment complex on what was once the Paulson family’s Christmas tree farm. Like the rest of Minnesota, the City of Northfield is currently experiencing a severe housing shortage, and the city has been supportive of the development, if a bit cautious.
There has been fierce opposition to the project from residents of the neighborhood adjacent to the property for a variety of reasons ranging from safety and traffic concerns to environmental issues. A local citizens group, Northfield SHED, has mobilized that opposition and brought it to planning commission and City Council meetings at every turn.
Despite the opposition, the Planning Commission has approved the preliminary plat with conditions that they detailed in a memo to the council. Brett Reese of Rebound Partners said the conditions are agreeable. He said the development is important for the Paulson family and the City of Northfield, and that the developing partners have taken care to ensure the development is within the parameters that the city has laid out for housing developments.
“If you look at the City’s Comprehensive plan and the Land Development Code, and it talks about infill, density, affordability, connectivity, increasing the tax base, and we feel Kraewood does all of those. And then, there’s just a need for housing in Northfield and we’re trying to help fulfill that need.”
The developers have also applied for tax increment financing from the city to aid the development. The Council will discuss that in early October. Should all the approvals come through, Reese said there is an outside chance they could break ground this fall.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Brett Reese of Rebound Partners can be heard here
Downstream Film Festival moves to Lions-Riverside Park
And Clean River Partners will present the 5th Annual Downstream Film Festival on Friday night at Lions Riverside Park. 
Featuring films submitted from around the world, the festival offers short films with environmental themes to promote discussion of local issues related to water and the environment. According to the Clean River Partners website, the films feature a “multitude of ways to think about the environment, ranging from narrative documentaries to experimental and animated short films.”
Kevin Strauss, the CRP Community Engagement Coordinator said the films vary in length, and that some are as short as 3 minutes. Some of the filmmakers are widely known within their industry and have worked on other national projects, while others were created by local Northfield filmmakers. The films range from award winners being screened at festivals across the nation to bold new student films.
The film festival, which is normally held in February was postponed this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Strauss said a grant from Northfield Shares has enabled CRP to hold the festival outdoors this year, and the City of Northfield has offered the use of both the park and the city’s Showmobile.
Along with the films, Farmstead Bike Shop will be on hand to provide free bike safety checks and minor repairs. Patagonia will also be there with their repair tent to assist in clothing or bag repairs.
The festival will open at 6pm on Friday. Films will begin at 7:00 and run until about 8:30. The festival is free, but Strauss said there will not be any seating provided so attendees should bring their own chairs.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
