As employees, contractors and consultants worked over the last two weeks to extinguish the fire in the Rice County landfill, they were aided by multiple state and county agencies including the Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service, the Faribault Fire Department, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
They were also aided by the Rice County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Jesse Thomas said drone pilots from his department were flying over the burning area, identifying specifically where the fire was flaring and also using thermal imaging to identify hot spots.
The Sheriff’s department acquired its first drone in 2019 when Faribault resident Tom McDonough donated $15,000 to buy one after former Sheriff Troy Dunn had spent a good amount of time applying for grants that would help with a purchase. The second drone was purchased after it was approved in the 2023 budget.
The Sheriff said the technology has made the way the department goes about its work much easier in many areas.
“It’s good technology and I’m grateful that our county board approved the budget to let us buy these items. It’s been a game changer with a lot of things we do. Missing persons, for example. We can put a couple drones in the air and fly a grid and try and find people versus, you know, back in day you got on a horse and or you’re walked it on foot.”
The department employs special drone pilots who are licensed to operate the devices in public, or more precisely as Thomas put it, “so they can fly over people.” Each pilot is required to use a drone for a special training exercise every month and he said his department has used those exercises for the benefit of the county. In 2021, he said, the drone was used to video and map the land upon which the new Public Safety Center is being built, and the footage was used for architectural and surveying purposes. And he said, it will be a good way to look back at how the area is affected by the development moving forward. Another drone flew over a waterway to help the county keep track of erosion without having to send people through some difficult terrain.
While the technology is tremendously helpful, it is still new, and there are areas to circumnavigate. In criminal investigations the department must get a warrant to use the drone. And the pilots must be very careful so as to not intrude on individual privacy.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas can be heard here
New Director of Buildings and Grounds has strong emergency experience
The Northfield School District has a new Director of Buildings and Grounds, who is most likely familiar to many people in the community.
Justin Raabole was named the new director by the Northfield School Board last month. Raabole has been with the district for just over a year as the staff master electrician. A 1996 graduate of Northfield High School, Raabolle has worked in the trade for several years with his own company, and with both St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges.
Raabolle may also be familiar to some as a veteran of the Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service. During the recent reorganization and establishment of a new command team, Raabolle was made a captain within the department, coordinating all the training that each firefighter must receive every year.
Raabolle steps into the role that had been filled the past two years by Cole Nelson.
Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann said that Nelson, who had been hired from the Rochester School District where he had been the assistant construction manager, received an offer with a private construction company, and found it was something he needed to accept. Hillmann was very complimentary of Nelson and his performance during his short tenure in Northfield.
Meanwhile, Raabolle ,Hillman said, is a very exciting hire for the district. He believes Raabolle’s knowledge of the community paired with his expertise and his connection to the fire department will serve the district extremely well.
“We’re very excited about someone who knows the system, knows the buildings, knows the equipment, and knows the community. You know, the position of Director of Buildings and Grounds continues to have more responsibility around emergency response. Justin’s connection with the fire department, we think, is going to be an incredible asset to the district.”
Raabolle’s first day as Director of Buildings and Grounds was just about two weeks ago. He will be very busy this week, as the district prepares for the annual high school graduation ceremony that is set for Sunday afternoon.
Council will vote to award bid tonight
And the Northfield City Council will meet tonight in the Council Chambers in City Hall, with several items of note on the agenda.
Two of the items on the main agenda are related to what has been the main talking point with the city council for months now. The first item to be discussed from the main agenda will be the consideration of a resolution declaring the reverse referendum partition, which has been presented to the city asking that the financing for 2023 street projects be put to a referendum, to be insufficient. Secondly, the council will vote to award the bid for the 2023 street project. The plan includes the construction of controversial on-and-off street bicycle lanes, and David Ludescher, a local attorney representing the group that circulated the referendum petition, has threatened litigation with the city should the council move forward with the project.
As always, the city and the council are asking to hear opinions and comments from the public. Anyone who wishes to do so is invited to come to the meeting and address the council on any topic they see fit. Those wishing to voice their opinions without addressing the council should email their councilors directly or post a comment through the eComment button on the “Agendas” section of the City Council website.
Tonight’s meeting will begin at 6:00.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
