The Northfield City Council heard a presentation from consultant Bruce Jacobson and representatives from Barr Engineering on Tuesday night discussing the feasibility study on the future of the Ames Mill Dam.
Studies like this one have been done many times in Northfield, and removal of the dam is not a new idea. The dam is no longer of any use to Post, the owners of the Ames Mill. However, it is antiquated and still requires expensive maintenance. The dam is also not good for the ecology of the Cannon River. On the other hand, it has been in place for more than a century and is on the register of National Historic Sites, and aesthetically, it would be jarring to many in the Northfield Community to remove the waterfall created by the dam.
There are many things that would have to happen in order for the dam to be taken out. City Administrator Ben Martig said removal is a four-part process. The first is the analysis and feasibility study phase, which is happening right now. The second would be the transfer of ownership from Post to the CIty of Northfield. Next in line would be the Design and Permitting stage, which could take the most time. Among the agencies the City would have to go through are the Historic Preservation Commission, which would have to issue a certificate of appropriateness in order to remove the dam. The city would also have to apply to the DNR to get a permit for removal, and that would open the door for the State Legislature to deny the project if they saw fit. Finally, the construction phase would entail the removal of the dam and construction of rapids to keep the river flowing properly.
The benefits to removing the dam could be more than just recreational and economical. Martig said the dam is not good for those who live in the waters of the Cannon River, and removing the dam could spark a renewal.
“We had the DNR come down during our Riverfront Enhancement plan sessions, and they gave a really great presentation about how you’ll see native fish come back and it’ll actually create a more robust opportunity for recreation from the people who like to fish side. And it’s good for the river ecology. It helps bring back those species, and we can probably do some things with the riverbanks as well.”
There was no action taken by the Council on Tuesday night as it was a work session. They will vote next month on what next steps, if any, should be taken.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield City Administrator Ben Martig can be heard here
Food, Music will be front-and-center at Hispanic Heritage Festival
The Hispanic Heritage Festival, Northfield’s celebration of Latin and Hispanic culture sponsored by the Northfield Public Library, is set for Saturday at Central Park. The event, which marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, will feature food, music, art, dancing and shopping from the many Latin and Hispanic vendors that will be there as well.
Angelica Linder, one of the event’s organizers, said she is amazed at how much the festival has grown in just six years.
“It always amazes me how this has grown into a community event from a library program. The first year it was just on the street next to the library. We did that for two years in a row, and then it grew so much that we had to move to Central Park. And I think this year it’s going to be even bigger than last year.”
The day will start at 9:30 in the morning with a Zumba class, followed by a bilingual story time. The festival itself will begin at 11am with a parade of flags, which is a new part of the celebration this year to honor the many different countries throughout the Latin and Hispanic world that will be represented.
Food will be a major player in this year’s festival. Chef Amalia Moreno-Damgaard, the author of Guatemala and Mesoamerican cookbooks, will give two demonstrations at noon and at 1 pm. There will also be several food trucks on hand representing different countries. Noris Cuisine will offer Venezuelan food, El Jefe with Mexican cuisine, Delicious Pupusas brings pupusas, a Salvadorian specialty, and El Jibarito will represent Puerto Rico. There will also be traditional fair food from B-Lo Zero Sno Cones & Minnie Donuts. Imminent Brewing will be on hand serving beer as well.
Entertainment will be featured on the Main Stage. Music this year will be provided by La Clave Orquestra. Away Runakuna, and Danza Maya of Northfield will be among the dance groups performing as well. And a children’s activities area will be open until 4pm.
Linder said there will be a few quirky aspects to the festival as well, including a chance to dress up your pet and win a prize.
“We always want to add a few new things, right? So, this year we have added a pet costume contest. Because we have noticed that people come with their pets to this event, and they dress them up. And it’s so cute and adorable, and it will always bring you a big smile.”
The festival is striving to be a zero-waste event. Food vendors have been asked to use only compostable products, and visitors are asked to use the marked containers for recycling and composting items.
The Northfield Hispanic Heritage Festival is this Saturday, September 16th, from 11 am to 5 pm at Central Park.
Northfield Seniors could receive $2500 scholarships as national Merit Scholars
And the Northfield Public School District announced yesterday that two Northfield High School seniors Sonia Brunelle and Jackson Hessian have been selected as 2024 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. The two were recognized earlier this week when the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced approximately 16,000 national semifinalists, a number that represents less than one percent of the high school seniors in the United States. Brunelle, Hessian, and the other semifinalists across the country will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.
To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition, including maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.5. About 95% of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a $2500 National Merit Scholarship and earn the Merit Scholar title.
A Statement issued by the Northfield Public School District said the staff and faculty are excited to have two of their students recognized by the National Merit Scholar Corporation. “We are very proud of them for their achievements in the classroom and on College Board assessments,” the statement read. “These programs help highlight the excellence students achieve in the classroom through hard work and dedication.”
Should Brunnelle and Hessian be named finalists, they will be notified in February. The 2024 National Merit Scholars will be named in the spring.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
