On Tuesday night, Northfield City Engineer Dave Bennett gave a presentation to the City Council during their monthly work session, going 
over the city parks capital improvement plan, and options to fund that plan.
The park CIP is a wide ranging and ambitious plan to address all of the nagging problems the city is looking at with regards to parks & recreation, including the potential building of a new ice arena, potential renovation of the Northfield Community Resource Center, proposed improvements to the Riverside parks, and the overall general park upkeep. Each facet of the plan is something that was identified through a nearly 18-month parks study performed by the city over the past two years.
Funding for park maintenance and upkeep is the first item on the agenda. Bennett said there are facilities at most parks that need to be either rebuilt or replaced, including shelters, restroom facilities and playgrounds, of which, he said, there are many nearing the end of their life spans. However, the city has identified only a fraction of the money necessary to tackle these projects.
“Currently in our levy for the park fund, we only have about $100,000. We really need to be up between $800,000 and $1 million to really start addressing existing park needs, not including the ice arena, or FiftyNorth. So, we need about $10 million over 10 years to put into the park system.”
The new funding would come through a combination of the current levy, donations to the city from Carleton and St. Olaf Colleges and the Northfield Hospital, a Street Light Utility fee, and a 1% increase to the city tax levy each year for three years.
The improvements and new amenities that would be added to the Riverfront Parks (Ames, Babcock, Riverside/Lions and Sechler) would come through the implementation of a one-half percent local option sales tax which would generate about $14 million each year for twenty years. This would require legislative approval to go on a ballot, and then would require voter approval.
Another referendum would go to the voters asking for $10 million for larger park amenities including new trails, courts, and a splash pad. The referendum would also include as much as $19 million to renovate the NCRC building and Fifty North.
Finally, addressing the question of how to build a new ice arena, the city has put a funding plan together that would include $6 million from the Northfield School District, $2 million from private donations and donated land, $1 million from the sale of the old ice arena, and $9 million from the city in tax abatement.
The total price tag for the plan is $60 million over ten years.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with City Engineer David Bennett can be heard here
County Water Patrol making improvements to equipment
As the weather turns warmer and Minnesotans begin to think about putting their docks in on the lake and getting their boats ready for the 
season, the Rice County Sheriff’s Department is gearing up its Water Patrol department for the season as well.
Rice County Deputy Captain Nathan Budin heads up the Water Patrol. He said the three responsibilities they have are safety and education, enforcement, and rescue and recovery. They hire seasonal employees, generally college students, to help with the safety and education side of things, and to spend about four days a week on the water in an enforcement role. Should they come across a situation that requires a citation or an arrest, they will contact a licensed deputy who will then arrive promptly to handle things.
Budin said recreation enforcement is a job that most of the seasonal people enjoy. He said he intends to hire five this year. Two who are returning after working with the department last year, and three who are going through background checks right now.
The equipment they use is there to meet all circumstances. Rice County has twelve lakes with good access, and two rivers running through it, and the different areas and bodies of water require different types of boats. They have several “traditional v-bottomed” boats, two jet skis, and a Jon boat. They also have another boat on order equipped with quite a bit of new technology, including sonar to assist the diving team. Sheriff Thomas said the department received a grant last year from the federal government, through the state, for $90,000 to buy a new jet boat. This boat is necessary for enforcement on the river, Budin said. It is much more maneuverable and able to function in just a few inches of water. It can also traverse a land bridge if necessary. The department has needed a boat like this for quite some time, Budin said, and they are quite grateful for the grant.
Thomas was quick to point out, though, even with the proper technology, it is still incumbent upon the public to maintain a high level of vigilance and common sense when on the water.
“It’s nice to have a lot of tools to help people when we need to, but the thing you always have to remember, though, is time. By the time you call us and for us to get there, there is time involved in all of that. So, plan ahead and make sure you do everything you can to make yourself safe out there.”
For more information on recreational safety and the Rice County Water Patrol, visit the Sheriff’s Office section of the Rice County Website at ricecountymn.gov
Stormwater pollution plan available for review through the end of the month
Northfield community members are being asked to review and comment on the city’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program starting on April 
15 through April 29.
The goal of a SWPPP is to reduce the discharge of pollutants from a storm sewer system to the maximum extent that is possible. The program covers public education, outreach and participation, a plan to detect and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm sewer system, construction-site and post-construction runoff controls, and pollution prevention.
Community members can view the program and submit comments on the city’s website at northfieldmn.gov.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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