As Spring approaches, at least in theory, so does the 2023 construction season, and planning is well underway for several projects in the 
Northfield area.
Fire Chief Tom Nelson said he is right in the thick of that planning right now. He has taken several meetings already this year regarding projects like the new townhome style student housing at Carleton College.
In his new full-time role, one of Nelson’s main functions is to serve as the man fire official throughout the Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service district. That function includes advising on fire codes and requirements as projects are put in motion.
He said he has been talking with consultants Bob Close and Bruce Jacobson quite a bit regarding the Riverfront Development and Downtown Redevelopment projects and is a member of the city’s Redevelopment Committee. One of the aspects of the project that is brought up often by the consultants is smaller access spaces for garbage and snow removal, which would require smaller utility vehicles, and Nelson said he is in on those conversations.
“Whether it’s Archer house redevelopment or Bridge Square, or the liquor store/Northfield news buildings, all those things, fire is brought in early. They ask about our concerns, and we talk about access roads, and where new construction might be limiting things. I’m able to bring the code and the knowledge of the code to say, ‘Here’s the requirement.’”
Fire code states that a fire truck must be able to be within 150 feet of any space on a building, and Nelson said it is vital that the department be able to reach every inch of the building with a fire hose. He said he has measured off the entire space between 2nd and fourth streets, on both the Riverwalk and the Division Street sides, and he and the consultants discuss things like fire hydrant placement and fire access. As the plans continue to develop, he said there will be more access made behind the Nueger building to accommodate public safety vehicles in any newly developed or re-developed area.
Nelson said the ability to have these conversations is one of the benefits of his new, full-time position, which affords hm the time to have these conversations, and helps to avoid problematic issues down the line.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield Area Fire Chief Tom Nelson can be heard here
Food Waste Program coming to Public Library
The Northfield Public Library will host a program centered on food waste and how it impacts the environment, the economy, and the community 
on Saturday, April 8.
According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates, 30%-40% of the country’s food supply is wasted. At approximately 131 billion pounds annually, it is the largest category of material in municipal landfills, a number that equated to $161 billion worth of food in 2010.
Emily Dresbach, a member of the Minnesota GreenCorps, will give the presentation at the library. She will discuss the different levels of the supply chain, where waste occurs, and different solutions for preventing that waste. She will also provide strategies that can be used at home to reduce personal food waste, help save money, and ease the burden on the environment.
As a member of the Minnesota GreenCorps, a program coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Dresbach is working in the Rice County Environmental Services Department to help reduce the amount of food waste going to the Rice County landfill, which, according to a statement released by the county last fall, has approximately 22 years of operating life left.
Dresbach, who graduated from St. Olaf College in 2022 with a degree in biology and environmental studies and has been with the county on a temporary basis since September, said when people think about food, they should approach it with thoughts of reducing, reusing and recycling.
While working with the county, Dresbach has prepared a brochure and post cards to help educate area residents, and has connected with local businesses, food shelves, and Carleton College’s Food Recovery Network to see what systems can further reduce waste and get food that’s still edible into the hands of those in need.
Dresbach’s presentation is set for Saturday, April 8 from 10:30-11:30am. For more information, and to register for the event, please visit mynpl.org
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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