During the City Council work session on Tuesday night, Northfield City Engineering Manager Sean Simonson and City Engineer Dave
Bennett gave a detailed report on areas around the city that consistently experience flooding issues and made some recommendations on how to mitigate the issues.
Simonson noted that the city has had to update the surface water model, and due to the effects of climate change, data now shows that a 100-year storm would result in 7.3 inches of rain, which would be problematic for many areas of the city. He said the city has identified 18 separate properties that would have the biggest flooding problems as a result, and he said, the city can do something about 13 of them.
While improving drainage and storm water capacity for four of the areas is a solution for four of the properties, Simonson said the other thirteen would be candidates for home conversion projects. In those cases, the city would actually arrange to have residential properties renovated for flood mitigation and would pay for the modifications. For some residences, walk out levels would be converted to look out areas. Some levels would be converted to full basements. One property would actually have its lower level de-commissioned, as they put it. Specifically, the home would lose the entire level as the city would fill the basement in.
Questions were asked about the public-to-private model. Bennett said the practice has become more common place in recent years, citing examples in Apple valley and Eagan. With a full project total estimated between $3 and $4 million dollars, City Administrator Ben Martig said, that while the idea might sound unusual, it is a way to fix a problem that is actually more cost effective than the alternatives.
“One thing our engineers talked about too, is, if we don’t do that then there are alternatives with our own drainage system improvements, but in many cases, it can be a much higher cost to do those things. This is actually a lower cost alternative that they are looking at. It’s also a way to keep homes on properties rather than acquiring them as well so we can preserve some housing stock.”
Members of the council were skeptical at best about the city paying for work done on private residences. Councilor Brad Ness said the city would be crossing a fine line doing this. Among his concerns, which were supported by other councilors, is the level of liability the city could incur by putting a project like this in place. Not only would there be problems with homes the city did work on, but there might also be problems from homes the city would not work on.
Martig said the engineering department will now investigate the council’s concerns and report back in the next few months.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield City Administrator Ben Martig can be heard here
Hillmann presents strategic plan draft to school board
On Monday Northfield Superintendent of Public Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann presented a draft of the district’s latest strategic plan to the Northfield School Board. Hillmann said the strategic plan covers goals for student outcomes and student achievements, and lines up with the district’s vision of preparing students for lifelong success within a world class learning environment.
The plan lays out what Hillmann calls five strategic commitments. The first commitment on the list, he said, is to people. That means the district is committed to students, district families, district faculty and staff, and to the community as a whole. Learner outcomes is another commitment, he said. The district is committed to helping each student in the Northfield school district achieve success academically, socially and emotionally. He said stewardship with funding, the district’s human capital and everyone’s time is an important commitment, as is the commitment to community partnerships the district has developed. And finally, Hillmann said, the district is committed to Equity.
“When we talk about Equity, we’re specifically talking about making sure that our decisions focus on that every child has a fair opportunity to reach their full potential. There’s been a lot of talk about that word ‘equity’ across the country, and I think it’s important to come back to that point. It’s making sure that every child has a fair chance to pursue the American Dream.”
Hillmann said there are thirteen benchmarks the district will use to measure the progress of each student as well as the district itself. Northfield Promise, a community-wide collaborative initiative that brings together many different community groups from the colleges to the business community to the city and many more, had adopted ten of the benchmarks after research showed that students who achieve those goals will have a chance to reach their full potential. Hillmann has proposed that the district adopt those benchmarks as well, along with three others pertaining to employee relations, parent satisfaction and financial health.
Hillmann said the goals are aspirational, but he also feels that they are in line with the community values and expectations of the district.
The school board will take a closer look at the plan during a work session on November 18. Further discussion will take place during the November 22nd meeting. The board will vote on the final plan December13.
KYMN and Rice County United Way to partner for a day of giving
And next Tuesday KYMN is partnering with the Rice County Area United Way for a day-long event that will raise awareness of local issues
and encourage giving.
KYMN United Way Day will include interviews throughout the day with leaders in Rice County’s non-profit sector that will highlight the programs they are utilizing to take on the community’s greatest concerns. Listeners will have several opportunities throughout the day to learn about different non-profit groups and their causes, and of course will be given plenty of opportunity to make donations.
Rice County United Way Executive Director Elizabeth Child said the organization raises funds for the greatest needs in the community. She said the pandemic has only exacerbated the problems of food instability, homelessness, mental health and education, and this year the organization hopes to raise $400,000 towards those causes.
KYMN owner Jeff Johnson said the station is proud to be working with an organization like the Rice County Area United Way.
“We are very fortunate to have such an active United Way in this area,” he said, “and I know our listeners will be very supportive of the program and the day.”
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
[recent_post_carousel slides_to_show=”1″ limit=”5″ slides_to_scroll=”1″ category=”10″ media_size=”medium” dots=”false” show_read_more=”false”]
