Representative Todd Lippert said the new legislative district maps put together by the state court system was a large topic of conversation
among state legislators last week at the State Capitol.
“Maps really shake things up,” he said. “And we definitely had a good shake of the snow globe last week.”
Among the major changes to the various districts, Northfield will no longer be in District 20B, but instead will be in 58A. Lippert said, looking at the map and the people who live there, the new district would seem to have maintained the same balance of Republican and Democratic voters. The changes seem to be wholly acceptable to the Representative.
The biggest change in Northfield, is the re-uniting of the Dakota County and Rice County sections of the city, putting all of Northfield in one district. Another interesting change is the shifting of the Western boundaries. Montgomery will no longer be in the same district as Northfield, but New Prague will be.
New districts can be both challenging and exhilarating to the legislators in St. Paul, and they can open doors for new opportunities. Northfield’s new Senatorial District does not have an incumbent senator, so there is an opportunity for the right person. On the other hand, some legislators are now finding that they live in a new district with another incumbent. And that, Lippert said, is a difficult thing.
“It’s pretty emotional when new maps are drawn and legislators who have given their time to this work suddenly find [they don’t live] in their district, or they are drawn in with a good friend of theirs and are thinking about running against that friend. Some of my colleagues in the Metro area are sorting out what to do next, and that’s happening with both the Democrats and the GOP across the state.”
Lippert said, despite the opportunities that might come with the new district boundaries, he is content with his decision to not seek re-election this fall. He called Kristi Pursell, the Executive Director of Clean River Partners, who has declared her candidacy for the DFL nomination in the new district, a strong candidate and said he has had no second thoughts about running.
“I’ve been honored to serve as State Rep,” he said. “I’ll be working hard for the rest of the session, and then it will be my time to step aside.”
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Representative Todd Lippert can be heard here
Elliott says new legislation could be very helpful for hiring diversity
Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott said he is very happy to see the legislature discussing ways to hire and retain law enforcement professionals in a time when those things are becoming increasingly difficult.
Like every industry at the moment, law enforcement is finding itself with fewer and fewer candidates for job openings. In years past, a job opening for a police officer, or a sheriff’s deputy, was seen as a good, stable job. A career in law enforcement means working for a municipality or a county with good pay, and excellent benefits, especially when it comes to retirement. However, in the last 20 months, since the death of George Floyd, there have been fewer and fewer people looking to join the law enforcement ranks. Where a few years ago one opening would have received several hundred applications, now there might be only 25, or even less.
A bill introduced into the State Senate last week would offer several opportunities for those who want to become a police officer of a sheriff’s deputy. Minnesota requires that anyone wishing to become any sort of law enforcement official must have at least an associate degree in law enforcement. Elliott said that can often be a barrier for people who have interest in a law enforcement career, especially for people of color. More and more, Elliott said, diversity is becoming a priority in police and sheriff’s departments, and this bill will help with that by offering different ways to pay for school, including loan forgiveness. He said there is also grant money in the bill that will go toward signing bonuses for new hires.
Elliott believes that programs like this will not only be helpful, but they are the key to more diversity among law enforcement professionals.
“I think offering some of those scholarship opportunities and some school loan forgiveness for some of those folks coming in should really allow us to meet some of those equity goals that we have and diversity in our ranks.”
Despite the hiring issues, the Northfield Police Department is about to be fully staffed for the first time in Elliott’s tenure as chief. Two new officers were sworn in last month, and a new hire will start work this week.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield Police Chief Mark Elliott can be heard here
City asks for feedback on Bridge Square plans
Working off park improvement concepts created back in 2014, the City of Northfield has an updated design for improvements to Bridge
Square and would like to hear feedback from the community regarding the new plans.
The improvements to Bridge Square will likely come in three phrases. The first phase includes expanding the plaza area, creating a green space, and building a terrace. The second phase will include expanding the path along the river and upgrading the landing. The third phase will include modifications to Fourth Street, the Fourth Street Bridge, and the parking areas surrounding the park.
The updated design combines ideas and community feedback from the 2014 Bridge Square vision plan with more recent ideas and suggestions from the 2020 River Enhancement Action Plan.
The comments and opinions received in the survey will be given to the Northfield City Council. The Council will decide on a final concept plan schedule in April.
For more information on the design concept and to take the survey, visit the Northfield City Website at ci.northfield.mn.us/bsp.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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