While the main event at the City Council meeting last week was the passage of the 2022 budget there were other interesting developments
during the meeting, one of which was the passage of a resolution designating the Archer House as a sub-standard building.
The resolution removed one of the last remaining obstacles before demolition of the building can begin, but not because the council was required to sign off on the building coming down. Rather, the designation keeps the ability of the city to offer tax increment financing to the developer of whatever is built on the site in the future.
City Administrator Ben Martig said the use of TIF in this situation is not simply a tool to help Rebound Partners, the group that owns the Archer House and the site, build something in that space. More importantly, he said, it gives the City Council and the Historic Preservation Commission, a little more power over what the next building will look like.
Members of the council showed great concern over the situation as things move forward. Councilor Susie Nakasian expressed regret that the façade of the building could not be saved and said she will be very keen to see what the plans are for the next development. Councilor Clarice Grabau, meanwhile, pointed out that by keeping the TIF option open, the next building will most likely be subject to the city’s new forthcoming Sustainable Building Policy.
Mayor Rhonda Pownell was very pointed in her comments during the meeting. She was deliberate in saying that the resolution does not automatically grant tax increment financing to the next development. And she echoed Councilor Nakasian’s feelings that what is built on that site is going to be something upon which the council will keep a sharp eye.
“Anyone can build a modern building. That’s not something that I would like to see in our downtown. A modern building can be anywhere USA; Northfield is not Anywhere USA. So, I am hopeful that we are truly going to get something that far surpasses what is there and what is set to be there for the next 100, 200 years.”
Last month, the Historic Preservation Commission approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for the site. Demolition is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Lippert has priorities for budget surplus
Last week the state budget office released an economic forecast predicting a $7.7 billion budget surplus in the coming year. The surplus is the largest in state history.
State Representative Todd Lippert said he believes the state has so much extra money because e of the help received from the federal government. Not only has the American Rescue Plan Act given the state economic aid, but he said, it has put more money into people’s pockets, pushing consumer indices higher, which has translated to more tax income for the state as well.
As for the question of what to do with the money, he said he sees two immediate priorities, beginning with childcare. He said one of the major reasons the country is wrestling with such a severe workforce shortage at the moment is because parents with children cannot find nor can they afford quality childcare. Lippert said the state of Minnesota has one of the lowest reimbursement rates in the country, and we need to do more to help the people who need it.
Another area Lippert said requires immediate help is in long term care providers. The crisis in facilities that care for the elderly and the disabled has been a priority of Governor Walz in recent weeks, as he has sought to relax restrictions on workers crossing state lines to work in Minnesota and has even mobilized medical professionals in the National Guard to help. Again, Lippert said, a higher state reimbursement rate would help organizations like the Northfield Retirement Community, Three Links and Laura Baker Services Association attract and retain workers.
He also said the one thing he and his DFL colleagues will not prioritize is an across-the-board reduction in taxes.
“What we don’t want is to be in a conversation about tax that essentially give money back to the wealthiest Minnesotans and the largest corporations, many of whom have gotten even wealthier during the pandemic. So, we’ll be focused on our priorities and where we think the need are.”
Lippert said he is optimistic that when the legislative session begins there will not be as much partisan bickering as there has been in the past few years. With such a large amount of money to distribute, his hope is that there will be enough for everyone.
The new legislative session is set to begin January 31st.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Representative Todd Lippert can be heard here
Rice County Attorney’s office adds staff
As the Rice County Courts continue to move through a backlog of cases, the County Attorney’s office has found it necessary to add more staff
for the coming year.
Rice County Attorney John Fossum said that he would like the prosecutors on his staff to keep caseloads of between 100-150 cases. However, with a felony backlog alone that has totaled more than 350 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, county prosecutors are each dealing with caseloads closer to 300. To that end, Fossum said, he has worked with the County Board of Commissioners, and he will be adding two more attorneys and a legal assistant to his staff in January.
While he is pleased that the new staff will make the work in his office both quicker and more efficient, while also ensuring for proper due process for the people involved, he said space will now become a problem. Fossum has often alluded to the fact that the Rice County Courthouse, which is nearly 100 years old, is becoming antiquated. Office space, he said, is a symptom of that problem.
“The courthouse just really isn’t big enough for my office anymore. The Court Administration has a lot of temporary employees, so they’re taking up a lot of the space over in their area which we had hoped to use for my office. The space needs are going to be a problem for us going forward.”
Rice County plans to further combat the felony backlog by reinstating retired judge John Cajacob in January. His presence as a fourth judge will allow the county to hold two trials simultaneously at any given time next year.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Rice County Attorney John Fossum can be heard here
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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