On Tuesday the Northfield City Council voted to accept the Alternative Urban Area-Wide Review, or an AUAR, of the Northwest Development section of the city.
An AUAR is an examination of a specific area that is done prior to development, assessing the environmental impact of different development scenarios. It is not tied to one specific project, but rather done to remove a step in the development process.
For several years now, growth of Northfield’s commercial industrial sector has been one of the city government’s main goals. In fact, commercial industrial growth was worked into the city’s most recent Strategic Plan and will be a part of the new Comprehensive Plan as well. In partnership with Xcel Energy, the AUAR brings the city a step closer to attracting commercial industrial companies who, they hope, will decide to set up shop right here in Northfield.
The report takes the place of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet and an Environmental Impact Study. By proactively having a study like this done saves time for both the developer and the city.
City Administrator Ben Martig said the report is a major milestone because the 800-acre Northwest Development area plays a major role in Northfield’s economic future.
“We literally have three light industrial sites. They’re all relatively small and on two of the three sites, the owner is basically non-responsive. So, the city is really out of infill sites. This is a new growth opportunity. But I would say because it’s contiguous to our infrastructure, it really meets our goals related to incremental growth for the city.”
The study looked at two different ideas for the area. One is a large technology or data center, while the other is a light industrial park. Martig said the city has been in contact with several different companies who would either create a data center on the site or make use of the industrial park. The city would be agreeable to either possibility.
Xcel Energy paid for the study, which is estimated to have cost between $200,000 – $250,000.
The study was approved by the council unanimously.
Hillmann discusses leadership on national podcast
Last weekend, Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Hillmann was honored for his leadership skills at the What’s Right in Education Conference presented by the national educational resource group Studer Education. Dr. Hillmann received the Difference Maker Award, becoming the 15th honoree in the 12-year history of the conference.
Dr. Janet Pilcher, the founder of Studer Education, hosted Hillmann on her podcast to discuss both his leadership and personal philosophies. Hillmann said the way he approaches his job every day is something that he defined for himself almost thirty years ago as an elementary school teacher in Madelia.
“You have a choice early in your career about your attitude toward your vocation. What is it going to be? And we chose that our mantra is ‘We’re going to do good things for kids.’ So, every day when I wake up and I do my morning routine, I think ‘All right, what good things can we do for kids today and how can we make our little corner of the world better?’”
The Northfield School District is well respected across the country by school administrators and educators, and Pilcher said that starts with the performance of everyone who works in the district. Hillmann said communication and clarity of goals and vision are vitally important. He described a process begun during the summer of 2022 that led to the development of an expectation document used by every district employee. Not only does it define what the district sees as high performance, but it also defines what low performance looks like as well. When each individual can see exactly what is expected, and can see what would be considered inadequate work, there is little guesswork involved in figuring one’s expectations.
The other key to good leadership, he said, is trust, which is something that must be earned.
“That starts and ends with trust and trust is very complicated to unpack. As my grandmother used to say, ‘It can take years to build trust and only seconds to lose it.’ It’s a complicated thing that we are always trying to seek. Because if we have trust, it’s rocket fuel for culture.”
He works toward that goal every day by – as he put it – “immersing himself in the culture.” Dr. Hillmann starts each day at one of the district schools, meeting with administrators, educators, and facilities workers. It is his belief, he said, that people will not trust someone who leads from his office, or leads through email, so he works to be in touch with as many people in the district as possible.
Dr. Hillmann was named the 2023 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year last fall, and this spring he was one of four finalists for National Superintendent of the Year.
Many programs, celebrations on tap for Veteran’s Day
Veteran’s Day is tomorrow. Ceremonies will be held across the country honoring those who have served in the United States military, including ceremonies at the State Capitol in St. Paul and at Veterans Memorial Park here in Northfield.
Ray Ozmun, who has been a member of the Northfield American Legion Post #84 for nearly 70 years, served in the U.S. Army in the 1950’s, said he always appreciates it when someone offers their thanks for his service.
“It’s getting better and better all the time. If you wear a Legion cap, or a VFW cap or a jacket of any sort like that, people will thank you for your service. The younger kids are really into this. I don’t know how many times I‘ve walked down the street and been thanked for my service. It’s not just the older people who thank me. It’s the young kids who are really getting into this.”
Programs honoring local veterans are being held throughout the city. Yesterday, students at St. Dominic School invited local veterans in to talk to students and receive their thanks. Today, programs will be held at Bridgewater Elementary and Northfield Middle School. On Monday, Ozmun said a group of veterans will be at Spring Creek Elementary School to have lunch with members of the student council.
Millstream Commons has invited veterans to have lunch with its residents today. Applebee’s is offering a free meal to veterans tomorrow, and Cub Foods is offering an 11% discount on groceries to veterans tomorrow as well.
On Sunday, Northfield’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon will hold its 3rd Annual Veterans Day celebration from 2-4pm at Trinity Lutheran Church. A special focus this year will be put on those who served in the Vietnam War, but all who served and those who want to honor the service are welcome to attend.
The Veteran’s Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park will begin at 11am tomorrow. Ozmun said it will be a brief event with a flag raising and a salute.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Ray Ozmun of the American Legion can be heard here
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
