During their meeting on Tuesday night, the Northfield City Council voted to set the city’s preliminary 2024 budget at $41.7 million dollars. In a separate vote they also set the preliminary property tax levy at $15.6 million, which would bring in $1.6 million in new tax dollars, equating to an 11.5% increase.
At 11.5%, this would be the fourth time in five years that the city has increased property taxes by double digits. The reasons given by the City of Northfield for the increases are plentiful. Inflation has increased costs across the board. As the city grows and develops, there is a need for more city staff. City facilities require maintenance. Vehicles have to be replaced. Roads must be maintained. Mayor Rhonda Pownell has said very often that the increases are also the result of poor governance by previous administrations. During the meeting, she said when she joined the City Council in 2010, there was an expectation that the levy would never be raised higher than 3%, which in her opinion was irresponsible. She said it has fallen to this Council to fix problems like city park maintenance that were kicked down the road by previous councils, and that is a difficult responsibility.
“These things aren’t easy. These are some of our toughest decisions that we have to make, because we are not creating a budget for our highest wage earners nor our lowest. We’re really trying to ensure that the city is well taken care of over the long haul. And yes, it’s expensive to take care of a city.”
City Administrator Ben Martig has said that the city is finally able to do some financial planning and forecasting for tax needs in the coming year, and because of the debt load the city has taken on and the prospect of building a new ice arena, the tax levy for 2025 could increase by 19%.
Martig said the best way to combat the increases to residential property taxpayers is to increase the commercial/industrial tax base. While the city has said this is a priority for several years, Martig said the need now has become serious, and the city must respond accordingly.
“The city has to be strategic in investments. Just as businesses look to grow, we really need more tax base and we’ve talked about that as well. I know that’s the long game. It’s not the short budget year thing to look at, but we really need to be serious about economic development and get the public talking about that as well in the importance of trying to grow our businesses and bringing new business. In a smart way.”
City Councilor Davin Sokup spoke against the increase. He said, while he supports the majority of the programs and initiatives the city is looking at, he does not believe this is the right time for another large increase to the tax levy. Many people are struggling with inflation right now, he said, and eventually the tax increases are going to price people, including him, out of the city. He suggested waiting until the city is able to increase the commercial industrial tax base before going ahead with another increase on residential taxpayers.
Several Councilors, including Kathleen Holmes, Jessica Peterson White, and the mayor herself, spoke in support of Councilor Sokup’s concerns, and said the projected 19% increase for 2025 will be unacceptable.
In the end, the levy was passed on a 6-1 vote, with Sokup voting no. The preliminary budget was passed unanimously.
Oktoberfest will feature Bavarian Musikmeisters, special Chapel beer, Keepsake cider
On Saturday, Dundas will host its inaugural Oktoberfest, with food, activities, games, and of course beer all in a family friendly setting.
Penny Bonsell and her husband Tom Hollenhorst, two organizers of the event, said the idea came to them shortly after they moved to Dundas just over a year ago, when Bonsell was installed as the Pastor at Little Prairie United Methodist Church. The two thought, as Pastor Bonsell put it, that “Dundas needed some love,” and after discovering Chapel Brewing in Downtown Dundas, they thought the town would be an excellent place to host an Oktoberfest. After talking with Chapel owner Tracie Vranich, things were put in motion.
Hollenhurst and Bonsell stressed that this will be a free, family friendly event with plenty of activities for kids including pumpkin painting, lawn games and carriage rides. Farmstead Bike Shop will facilitate some activities on the river, including short kayak trips. There will be booths for non-profit vendors, and the Cannon Valley Makers will open their studio up to visitors.
The event will feature live music from the High 48’s, a beloved Twin Cities bluegrass band with a large and enthusiastic following, and the Bavarian Musikmeisters playing waltzes and polkas and offering some authenticity to the event. Hollenhurst, who plays in the band, said the Musikmeisters specialize in events like this.
“Yeah, we’re primarily based in the Twin Cities area. We rehearse in Saint Paul at a church up there, but we play in Oktoberfests throughout the state of Minnesota and sometimes Iowa, sometimes Wisconsin. So, we have a pretty broad reach. This is a perfect event for us. This is kind of what we specialize in the Community Oktoberfest.”
Food will be provided by Ruth’s on Stafford and by the Little Prairie Church. Bonsell said the church is no stranger to feeding a big crowd.
“Little Prairie is known for their fall dinners and their Lenton fish dinners, so this is a church that knows how to cook well and for a large crowd. So, we’re serving up the brats and the hot dogs. We’re not serving beer, but we’re serving root beer and root beer floats.”
The Dundas Oktoberfest is a rain or shine event that will take place in Downtown Dundas. The event is free, however those wishing to have a beer, or a cider must purchase a $5 wristband. For more information, visit dundasoktoberfest.com
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Penny Bonsell and Tom Hollenhurst can be heard here
Music for all ages, Mariachi band highlight Third Thursday event
And adding to what may be the busiest Thursday night Northfield has seen outside of the Defeat of Jesse James Days, the final Third Thursday event of 2023 is set for tonight. The Northfield Riverwalk Market Fair and the Friends of Downtown Northfield have partnered this summer on a series of events for locals that has also attracted people from outside of town to come experience Downtown Northfield in all of its summer evening glory.
The 400 block of Division Street will be closed, and the city Showmobile will be set up this evening to host Louis & Dan and The Invisible Band, and Mariachi Alma de Mexico. Many of the Riverwalk Marketfair vendors will be set up along the street, and most downtown vendors will be open later than normal as well.
The Third Thursday event will run from 5-8 pm this evening.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
