Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell has taken her message regarding the proposed 18.5% increase in the city 
In her most recent letter to the community, posted yesterday to the Northfield City website, Pownell discusses the need for the increase, how Northfield’s taxes compare to other like-sized cities around the state, and what can be done to avoid future double-digit increases.
In her letter, Mayor Pownell acknowledged that 18.5% is larger than any local tax increase in recent history. The city, she said, is paying for neglect by previous administrations in many areas of local need that can no longer be ignored.
“I’m concerned about the proposed city levy increase, and I know many of you are as well,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, past budget cuts have delayed parks, infrastructure, and facility maintenance necessitating expensive repairs.”
Furthermore, the levy is growing due to necessary expansions in the police, fire and library budgets. Pownell said these organizations are all major contributors to Northfield’s high quality of life, and “finding sustainable ways to keep all these areas adequately funded is important,” she wrote.
Despite three years of double-digit tax increases, Pownell said Northfeld is still, on average, 10% lower in total taxes than the comparable cities across Minnesota. And while many local cities have a lower tax rate, Pownell said that is because many receive more money from the state in local government aid, or because they have a higher commercial industrial tax base.
The mayor said she is especially interested in growing that base in Northfield.
“I am grateful for new expansions like All Flex, Aurora Pharmaceuticals, Cardinal Glass, and the new community banks which all expand our tax base,” she wrote. “Current and future redevelopment projects like 5th Street Lofts, the Archer House and 5th and Water Street will further increase the tax base and improve our economic vitality.”
Finally, the Mayor Pownell expressed her conviction that a high quality of life in Northfield is necessary to attract more people and businesses to town.
“We are a place people want to come, and stay when they do,” she said. “Our investments in safety and quality of life help make that possible.”
Mayor Pownell’s latest column can be found here
Chainsaw carving comes to Downtown Northfield
The City of Northfield will become the epicenter of the Upper Midwest Chainsaw Carving world when four well
known sculptors will come together for a weekend of chainsaws, music, food and sculpture at Armory Square.
The Minnesota Chainsaw Art Experience is an event created by local chainsaw carver Curtis Ingvoldstad and his business partner John Dougherty. For many years, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ingvoldstad would host a celebration at the end of the Studio ArTour featuring live music and a live carving demonstration. During the pandemic, Ingvoldstad decided to turn that annual celebration into an event that would not just be something for other artists and friends but would raise the profile on his chosen medium and introduce it to a larger part of the community.
Having competed in chainsaw carving events all over the world, he has gotten to know many other carvers whom he calls “legitimate sculptors.” And indeed, the work he and his cohorts create is gaining more and more respect. Ingvoldstad himself has been tapped in recent years to carve the Minnesota Vikings Skol Drum at US Bank Stadium, and this summer he was commissioned to sculpt the giant Lake of the Isles Pencil in Minneapolis. He will be joined this weekend by Chris Kheun known for his expressive wildlife work as well as Wisconsin carver Jason Soderlund and Michigan carver Jim Denkins.
Ingvoldstad said all four will be carving at the same time, which will create an exciting experience for those who attend.
“It’s kind of like Motocross meets art. There’s the excitement of the noise from the saws and there’s sawdust flying everywhere. And then also there’s the [excitement of] watching somebody create something in a short amount of time. It’s like being in the studio, you know? You get to watch the whole process; the good, the bad and the ugly.”
The event will feature live music on Saturday night from Matt Arthur & The Bratlanders, The Wreck, and the very popular Twin Cities band The Belfast Cowboys. And on Sunday, much of the art created this weekend will be auctioned off, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Laura Baker Services Association.
The Minnesota Chainsaw Art Experience will begin this morning at the green space at Armory Square. Ingvoldstad he and his fellow artists will be working today and tomorrow from 9am – 5pm, and from 9-Noon on Sunday. The Sunday auction will begin at 1pm.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Curtis Ingvoldstad can be heard here
NHS Hall of Fame welcomes some prominent names
And tomorrow morning, Northfield High School will add six individuals and one team to the school’s Athletic
Hall of Fame.
Former high school sports announcer Rieber Paulson, recently retired football coach Bubba Sullivan, hockey player James Heinen, football player Anthony Jacobs, and basketball players Bri Zabel and Morgan Zabel will all be inducted for their individual accomplishments and contributions to Northfield High School Sports. The entire 1998 State Champion Girls Swim and Dive Team will be honored in the Hall of Fame’s team category.
The celebration is set to begin at 9:00 tomorrow morning at the high school with a continental breakfast in the lower cafeteria. The induction ceremony will begin at 10:00 in the high school auditorium.
Attendees to the event are asked to enter on the west side of the school through Door #10.
The event is free and open to the public.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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