The Cannon River Drug and Violent Offender Taks Force continued with what has become a busy and fruitful period. Last week the task force
Apolinar Osvaldo Hernandez-Silva, 39, a local man with four pending felony cases was charged Wednesday with two additional felonies after Cannon River Drug and Violent Offender Task Force agents discovered nearly a pound of methamphetamine in his Northfield hotel room.
After discovering what was almost one pound of meth in his Northfield hotel room, Apolinar Osvaldo Hernandez-Silva, 39, who already had four pending felony charges against him, was charged yesterday with first-degree meth possession and first-degree sale of meth.
On Monday, task force agents executed a search warrant on Hernandez Silva’s room, where they discovered a small amount of a crystal-like substance that tested positive for meth and various types of drug paraphernalia, including an electronic scale, and glass pipes and tubing commonly used to smoke meth. They also found two plastic bags with a substance that tested positive for meth, weighing a total of .957 pounds.
The other charges against Hernandez-Silva include receiving stolen property for an August 2022 case in which he is alleged to have been in possession of a stolen 18-foot aluminum trailer and commercial lawn mower. In January, he was charged with felony domestic assault for reportedly trying to run over a woman with his truck. He has also been charged with violating a no contact order and two counts of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 14.
Yesterday, Judge John T. Cajacob set bail in the drug case at $500,000 with no conditions based on what County Attorney Brian Mortenson argued was Hernandez-Silva’s record of non-compliance. Cajacob agreed with Mortenson and set no conditional bail.
Because Hernandez-Silva is accused of possession and sale of more than 100 grams of meth, the charges are enhanced which brings the potential for a longer sentence should he be convicted. His next court appearance is set for March 22nd at 9am.
Council decides no EIS necessary for Cedar Meadows development
On Tuesday night, the Northfield City Council found that there is no need to perform an Environmental Impact Study for the new Cedar 
The development, which will include more than 500 housing units, is to be built on 62 acres of land at the northwest corner of Cedar Avenue and North Avenue, just to the east of the Northfield Hospital. It will include approximately 53 detached villas, 26 single-family units, 16 units (8 buildings) of twin homes or duplexes, 12 units (4 buildings) of triplexes, one 63 unit building of senior co-op living, and an area intended for development of an apartment building.
City planner Mikayla Schmidt made a presentation to the council during this week’s regular meeting and said the Environmental Assessment Worksheet done on the area, which has been used as farmland for many years, found no major problems. There are some drainage issues that will have to be mitigated, and some wetlands that will be protected, but there are no major obstacles Additionally, she said the city has been planning for growth in that area, and consequently the sewer system is ready for development, and land in the area has already been purchased to construct a new water tower.
Mayor Rhonda Pownell has expressed some concern over the development, noting that 500+ homes will bring a high-density population to an area bordered by roads that are designed for rural areas. She said there are no sidewalks or pedestrian crossings laid out there, and she wants that situation to be addressed.
“If you’re increasing density and the movement of people by car, bike or walking and jogging, you need to take into account some of those pedestrian safety accommodations and look to see how we can connect that area of the community into the neighborhoods and make it safer.”
Part of the 62-acre site has been set aside for commercial-serving-residential development as well. As that happens, City Administrator Ben Martig said there would be more changes made with Cedar Avenue. Northfield, he said, could take possession of that section of road, which would make it easier to put those safety precautions in place.
“That roadway that I call Cedar, which the mayor was talking about, will get turned over to the city at some point through some negotiations between Rice and Dakota counties, but we do also know that design does create challenges related to feeling connected to the community as development occurs around it. So, we really prefer more of the urban design if we can.”
Martig also said there is no timetable on the turnover.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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