The Northfield Public School District will host an informational meeting tonight to answer questions and 
help the community learn more about the Capital Improvements Levy referendum that will be on the general election ballot next month.
The Capital Improvements, or Capital Projects Levy, was originally passed in 2011. It currently generates about $750,000 in revenue for the district each year and is in place for the district to make smaller improvements to buildings and parking lots. It also allows the district to buy equipment for the schools, including technology for use in classrooms, and to make sure that technology is maintained and is up to date.
The referendum will ask the voters two questions: should the levy be renewed, and should it be expanded. When originally passed, the levy was capped at $750,000. An expansion of the levy would grow the annual amount of revenue to $1.65 million, and it would not be capped. Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann said that means it would grow with the tax base.
“As the tax base grows, like it did over the last twelve months, it would allow us to have access to some additional revenue. It’s not an inflationary factor, but we all know what things are doing for just repairing parking lots or buildings, just keeping up on maintenance and upkeep. So [the expanded levy] would allow us to have some additional funds to combat some of the inflation that we’re seeing.”
State law offers the ability to pay the salaries of the six staff members in the technology department through the levy, as well. Hillmann said by expanding the levy by just over $1 million, they would be able to pay the salaries of those six people and thereby open some space in the general fund.
He also said the annual cost to the average homeowner would not be very much.
“If your home is valued at $350,000 that would mean an $81 tax increase next year,” he said. “It’s very economical, comparatively, to a lot of other things. And yet it does provide a lot of relief to the school system.”
Hillmann has also been quick to point out that this referendum is not asking for a decision on the major upgrades needed in the high school facility. The school board has decided to table that issue for the moment, pending further study.
Tonight’s meeting will run from 6:00 – 7:15 in the gymnasium of the District Office building.
For more information on the Capital Improvements Levy, click here
Safety concerns at heart of new bikeway, pedestrian study
The City of Northfield is continuing to move forward on plans to attract more people to bicycling and 
walking, by facilitating safer avenues to do so.
On Tuesday night during their regular meeting, the Northfield City Council accepted a 78-page report with recommendations on expanding bikeways throughout the city, and a focus on identifying intersections where safety measures need to be improved. Mayor Rhonda Pownell said the report is an important opportunity for the council to proactively enhance the safety for all in the community.
The report recommends that the city adopt two-lane bikeways with a concrete buffer as the standard form throughout Northfield. The bikeways would be on one side of the street, rather than putting bicycle lanes on either side of a street. City Administrator Ben Martig said the form will allow for quicker implementation, because typically the city does not do full on street reconstruction every year, and instead fixes roads more often through a mill & overlay process. The buffer necessary for the two-lane bikeways lends itself more easily to overlay projects.
There are ten streets throughout the city that are recommended for new bikeways, including Washington Street, Heritage Drive, Prairie Street, Maple Street and a portion of Armstrong Road. The selection of a standard design is important, said Martig, because a standardized bikeway will make it easier for motorists, bicyclists and walking pedestrians to adapt to the concept, which will, in turn, create a safer environment for all.
Mayor Pownell said the report also identifies 45 intersections that require improved safety measures for pedestrians. Martig said the council was interested in learning more about how to improve those areas. Identifying the need is important, he said, but deciding how best to proceed will take more research.
“It was identified in the report, but the design solutions weren’t included. So, for next year, the design project will be integrated in our feasibility report processes like we typically do, but we’re going to add an additional phase of study for the next 5-year plan. Next year we’ll take a look at the intersection design issues to continue to look at improving safety for all people and the users in the community.”
For the most part, the plans will be phased in over time as the identified streets and intersections come up for standard maintenance. However, Martig said, some areas have been identified as higher priority, and will be moved up in the process in order to connect what he called some “missing links” in the city’s pedestrian walkways.
ARPA funded grants to help local tourism
And the Northfield Economic Development Authority is now accepting applications from Northfield tourism-
related organizations for a Tourism Recovery Grant.
The funds will come from the portion of the city’s American Rescue Plan Act federal allocation that has been designated for pandemic recovery and growth. Applicants may request grants for $10,000 and up to $30,000 based on economic hardship from the Covid-19 pandemic and future reinvestment within Northfield’s tourism industry. Grants for over $10,000 must be matched dollar-for-dollar with private funds.
The grant can only be used for up to three months of operating expenses, including payroll, payments to suppliers, capital projects to improve event space, or other approved critical expenses.
Organizations that received federal funding for COVID-19 are eligible, but those that have received state or local funding are not eligible.
A statement released by the city said organizations demonstrating significant investment in capital projects that further the Northfield tourism industry or haven’t received federal funding will receive higher preference.
The deadline to submit an application is October 14th. For more information on the Tourism Recovery Grants click here.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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