The city of Northfield is under a flood watch this week. Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott said the downtown area is probably not in 
The rain and snow the area has received in the last week, coupled with the substantial amount of melting snow from what is now the third snowiest winter on record, has raised the water level of the cannon river substantially. As of yesterday morning, the river was at 896.7 feet. Elliott said 897 feet is the point that is considered minor flood stage.
The river is not expected to come close to the record 901 feet that caused major flooding and damage in 2010. There had been a concern earlier in the week when a combination of heavy rain and snow was predicted to fall on Tuesday night, but the storm system shifted to the west, and largely missed the Northfield area. The amount of precipitation we received last night, in fact, was negligible and certainly does not pose much danger. With a favorable forecast for the next few days, the Cannon is expected to crest tonight somewhere around 897.7 feet.
There are a number of reasons the city is probably going to be spared from another major flood this spring. Despite the substantial snowfall, the spring thaw has been slow, allowing for a more gradual rise to the river. Elliott said other, more long-term issues have factored in as well.
“We’ve had some helpful weather over the last week. It got below freezing every night and that slowed things down a little bit for us. We’re seeing the frost come out of the ground now too, so more of that moisture is able to soak into the ground and not just run off. And with the drought that we were experiencing last year, there’s a lot of room for moisture in the soil, so that’s helping us as well.”
This is the first flood warning of the year in Minnesota during what is expected to be a very wet spring with widespread flooding across the state. And while the threat level is not very high in Downtown Northfield right now, there are concerns with other upstream areas of the Cannon River Watershed that could be problematic. Chief Elliott said the situation remains a fluid one, and people should be aware that other issues could still arise.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield Chief of Police mark Elliott can be heard here
NAFRS looking for 4-6 new firefighters
As we reported last week, the Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service has been preparing to recruit a few new firefighters into the fold, 
and according to a statement released by the fire department yesterday, applications for 4-6 new positions are now being accepted.
The firefighter positions are paid on call, meaning firefighters are paid for the calls to which they respond. According to the posting, among the requirements to be a firefighter with NAFRS, are the ability to report for at least 30% of annual fire calls and attend Monday evening fire drills, meetings and trainings. Pay and benefits include $16.17 per hour for training/meetings; $21.63 per hour for fire calls. The positions offer an excellent annual pension, along with fully paid Firefighter/EMT training tuition and expenses.
The recruiting period will begin with an open house at the fire station that will provide those who are interested with an excellent view of what it’s like to be a Northfield Area Firefighter, by talking to some current firefighters. Candidates are encouraged to bring their families as well so they, too, understand the commitment.
Chief Nelson said there will be some new criteria used for applicants during this hiring period.
“We’re really going to try to pound the pavement and get word out in the larger community. We really need to get people that [can answer calls at certain times.] So, we’re going to lean towards people that have daytime availability.”
The Recruiting Open house is scheduled for Saturday, May 6th from 9am-Noon. Applications will be accepted until May 15th, and physical testing and interviews will be conducted throughout June. Offers will be made in early July contingent on background, psychology and fit-for-duty checks. The new fire fighters will be officially hired on August 1st.
To find the full job posting, hiring timeline, and application, visit nafrs.org and click on the employment tab. Paper applications are also available in the fire station lobby.
Rice County Public Health touts accomplishments
This week is National Public Health Week, and Rice County Public Health is celebrating its accomplishments, and those of the department employees, over the last few years.
The department assures county residents’ health is protected, maintained and enhanced, and is responsible for, assuring an adequate local public health infrastructure, promoting healthy communities and healthy behavior, preventing the spread of infectious disease, protecting against environmental health hazards, preparing for and responding to disasters and assisting communities in recovery, and assuring the quality and accessibility of health services.
Through its five divisions — Family Child Health, Clinic and Community, Disease Prevention & Control, Emergency Preparedness, and Home and Long-term Care — the county health department provides a significant number of programs and services for thousands of county residents. Outreach to traditionally underserved communities remains a key focus. Public Health employs a number of bilingual staff, including an English and Spanish speaking community health worker and an English and Somali speaking health educator.
“There’s so much to celebrate,” said Rice County Public Health Director Deb Purfeerst. “We couldn’t have accomplished what we did [during the pandemic] without our dedicated Public Health staff.”
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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