The City of Northfield will soon begin work on Bridge Square, with an ey to enhancing the user experience for Northfield residents and visitors. Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell and City Engineer Dave Bennett called the plans to revitalize the iconic downtown location both wise and necessary. 
“Downtown Northfield hosts a substantial amount of people,” said Mayor Pownell. “Providing a gathering space like Bridge Square is important. This is one more step in its evolution.”
The idea for making improvements to Bridge Square surfaced in 2014, and plans were drawn up for some initial ideas. However, projects like the remodeling of the Northfield Public Library and the Fire Station took precedence, and the ide was shelved for a time.
With the passing of the Riverfront Enhancement Action Plan, however, Bridge Square is now looking like a good starting point for that project.
The city has prepared plans for the public to look over and evaluate. A survey has been posted to the city website as well, so people can offer some opinions on the plans.
The improvements will be made in three phases over a five-to-ten-year period. The first phase will focus on the central plaza area of the park. The section of Water Street between the square and the riverfront that has been closed in the summer the past two years, will be permanently shut down and removed. A green space will be put into that area instead, to connect Bridge Square with the riverfront area. A terrace will be built on the south side of the area as well.
Bennett said he has already received feedback from many people, who ask about the fountain, the Civil War Memorial, and the popcorn wagon, all of which will remain as Bridge Square fixtures. The biggest question, however, is how this project will affect parking downtown, when it is already at a premium. Bennett said the city understands the parking situation, and this plan will not cost the city any parking spots, at least in the immediate future.
“And in the future, I think we’d be looking at the parking. We’ve indicated, and I think we’ve said to the public, we will not take any parking out until we have a long-term plan in place for what we want to do. I think it’s still up in the air, but no parking would go without having a plan.”
For more information about the Bridge Square Plans, and to take the survey, click here.
Hillmann says Special Ed Cross subsidy funding would really help
As the Northfield School District prepares to trim the budget due to declining enrollment, Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt
Hillmann said there are things that can be done to mitigate the situation and things that cannot be done.
One thing that will not happen, he said, is the district will not be coming to the taxpayers and asking for more money.
“The community has been very generous,” he said. “They have provided us with a significant operating levy, the largest allowed by law and for the longest amount of time allowed by law, with an inflationary factor.”
However, Dr. Hillmann said, the situation is as much about the state underfunding education as much as it is declining enrollment, and there is something that can be done about that.
Hillmann has spoken often about the Special Education Cross Subsidy. While he believes that special education programs are, as he calls them, a “moral imperative,” the mandate set by the State Government has never been funded. Therefore, the Northfield School District pays about $5 million dollars out of its general fund every year for special education.
The state has promised to pay for special ed, but it never has. Hillman said, if a person wanted to do something to keep the district from eliminating other programming, they should contact their legislators about funding Special Education.
“The state is anticipated to have [an even larger surplus than expected.] some people are even now saying we could have a $10 Billion – that’s billion with a ‘b’ – surplus this year. If this is not the opportunity to solve that special education cross subsidy, or at least take a big swing at it, I don’t know when it’s going to be. But if we have one thing to focus on, all you need to do is email your legislators and say, ‘I hear you need to fully fund the Special Education Cross Subsidy,’ that will help Northfield Public Schools.”
With all of this said, Hillmann believes the district is beginning the process for a place of financial strength. The district has, for many years, been able to keep abut 16% of its annual expenditures in reserve, and there is money from federal Covid relief programs that will help as well. But, he said, the state living up to its promise, could make an enormous difference in this process.
Clean River Partners, City of Northfield, Dakota County promoting rain gardens
The City of Northfield and Clean River Partners are collaborating again this year on a seminar that will teach people about the benefits of
rain gardens and how to install them in their yards.
Participants will learn what rain gardens can do for the aesthetics of their homes and how they are good for the environment in general.
“Rain gardens, with their deep-rooted native plants beautify your lawn while also capturing and cleaning stormwater before it enters our rivers and lakes,” said Clean River Partners Community Engagement Coordinator Kevin Strauss.
Those who attend the seminar will learn where the best place is in their yard to plant a rain garden, and how to choose the right plants.
Moreover, said Strauss, both the City of Northfield and the Dakota County SWCD have programs that will reimburse homeowners for part of the cost of installing a rain garden.
“Plant a garden,” he said, “the city and the county will pay for them.”
Attendees are asked to bring digital or print photos of their property to help with planning.
The class will be March 17th, from 6-9pm at the Northfield High School. It is free to attend and is sponsored by the City of Northfield.
For more information on the Raingarden seminar, click here
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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