State of the City address tonight; Elliott works to educate about overdoses

March 21, 2022
9:15 am

After two years of Covid necessitated virtual presentations, Mayor Rhonda Pownell will give the State of the City Address tonight in front of a live audience, and the Northfield Community is invited.

Last year, with some time to do advanced planning, the city’s communications staff was able to turn what had traditionally been a standard speech into a full-on group presentation featuring various city department heads, allowing the mayor to paint a much more in-depth picture of her vision for the city.

This year, many elements of that presentation concept will remain.

Mayor Pownell will celebrate what Northfield has accomplished this past year and what is being worked on this upcoming year, while incorporating live music, guest speakers, and video presentations of annual awards such as the Mayor for a Day Essay Contest, the Board & Commission Member Excellence Award, the Human Rights Award and the Employee Excellence Award.

The mayor said she is hopeful to have a full audience tonight, if for no other reason than the program will be an entertaining one.

“Our city staff have really bn working hard to ensure that it’s a fun, engaging and informative event. We just really encourage people to take the time. Come on out, listen to what’s going on in the city, and think about how you can participate and help us move our community forward.”

Those who attend the State of the City Address must be fully vaccinated – and boosted if eligible – or must have received a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 24 hours before the event. ASL and Spanish interpreters will be available.

A recording of the event will be available in English and Spanish on Northfield Public Broadcasting channels 180 and 187 and on the city’s YouTube Channel throughout the year.

Mayor Pownell’s State of the City Address is tonight at the Kracum Performance Hall at Carleton College’s Weitz Center for Creativity. The event is free to attend and will begin at 6:30.

Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Mayor Rhonda Pownell and City Administrator Ben Martig can be heard here

Elliott promotes overdose awareness, Naloxone availability

Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott has recently teamed with the Rice County Opioid Response Council to bring awareness to the

continued problem of drug overdoses and to educate all members of the community about things they can do to help if they are witness to an overdose.

The Rice County Opioid Response Council is made up of civic leaders and professionals from around the county who work in all the different aspects related to drug overdoses that addresses gaps in opiate use prevention, treatment, and crisis services.

Elliott can currently be seen in a Public Service Announcement for the council discussing overdose issues, the prevalence of fentanyl in Rice County and the dangers that drug poses, and the availability of Naloxone which is a drug that can be used to counteract an overdose.

According to data available through Rice County, there were 36 overdoses reported to Rice County emergency responders, between Aug. 1, 2020, and July 31, 2021. Of the 36, five were fatal. In 2021, 28 overdoses were reported to Rice County law enforcement. Four were fatal. Of the four, three are believed to have involved fentanyl.

Elliott said the PSA has two main points. One is to increase awareness of the Minnesota Good Samaritan Law that protects people who call for emergency help when someone they are with is experiencing an overdose from any sort of prosecution.

“You Know we’ve heard those stories where a friend who was with someone who was overdosing, but they had drugs with them or something, and they were afraid that they would get in trouble or go to jail for the drugs because they called for help for their friend. That’s not the case. As long as you call for help for the person and cooperate with getting that person help, you will not be prosecuted for drug offenses.”

Another point is to let people know that Naloxone is available at no cost at several pharmacies around Rice County. Elliott said a majority of fatal overdose victims do not have a pulse by the time a first responder arrives, but anyone can administer Naloxone and make an immediate difference.

For more information on the availability of Naloxone or with any other questions, contact the Rice County Mobile Opiate Support Team at 507-299-0204, or email MOSTlead@ricecountycmhc.org.