On Tuesday night, during the Northfield City Council work session, the City Director of Finance, Brenda Angelstad, gave a presentation showing the best way to bring the increase of the city’s tax levy to 9%, down from the initial increase that was set at 11.5%.
In September, the Council set the preliminary levy at $15,661,510. Angelstad said by using a combination of reserve funds and expense reductions, the city staff has been able to reduce the preliminary number by $350,000. An intersection control study that was set to be done on Highway 3 has been eliminated. Additionally, some funds for Comprehensive Planning will be carried over to next year, and some state assistance for public safety has been applied in order to meet the reduction.
What was not eliminated, she said, is the increase to the City Parks maintenance budget, the City Facilities budget, and the Vehicle & Equipment budget. A newly created Building Code Enforcement position has made the final cut in the budget as well. Angelstad’s presentation noted the cost of that position will be at least partially offset by additional building permit revenue.
City Administrator Ben Martig, while addressing members of the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday morning, said he doesn’t believe the city has a spending problem so much as it has a tax base problem. Using the comparisons to peer cities, which is something done with regularity by the city staff, Northfield is shown to be in the middle of the pack or the bottom third in terms of total taxes collected. However, the commercial industrial tax base is at 23% of the average compared to those same cities. Martig said expanding that tax base will ease the burden of every other Northfield taxpayer.
“One of the best ways that we can reduce our tax burden as a community is to continue to attract commercial and industrial businesses. When we do that, it grows the tax base, reduces the cost on all of us, and creates more vibrancy. We can do adjustments on the budget certainly. But I think in the long term, we really need to keep our eyes focused on that and work on it. We’re making good progress.”
Indeed, just last week, the City Council adopted a report prepared on the 800-acre Northwest Development Area, which will act as a proactive environmental and transportation study, removing some of the bureaucracy that can delay the type of development the city craves.
The Northfield City Council is expected to vote on the final budget at its regular meeting on December 5th, following a public Truth in Taxation hearing.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield City Administrator Ben Martig can be heard here
Rice County offers help, aid to young parents for infant sleeping
Governor Tim Walz has declared this week, November 12th-18th, to be Infant Safe Sleep Week in Minnesota, and Rice County Public Health has issued a public service statement to help those caring for infants and newborns to ensure a safe sleep environment.
The statement said infants can be put at risk of accidental suffocation, strangulation and preventable death if certain basic principles are not followed
According to the Rice County Family Child Health supervisor, Fae Schumacher, all caregivers should know and practice what she called “the ABCs of Safe Sleep.” A baby should sleep alone on his or her back, and in a safe crib. Crib mattresses should be firm, sheets should fit tightly and there shouldn’t be anything else in the crib, including pillows, blankets, crib bumpers, stuffed animals or other toys.
The statement said that infants also should not be placed to sleep on a couch or in a car seat, and it stressed the point that a baby should not sleep in the caregiver’s bed. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, research continues to show that bed-sharing can be incredibly dangerous. The risks of sleep-related death increase by 500%-1000% when a baby under the age of four months old sleeps on the same surface with someone else. That risk only increases when a person sleeping in a bed with a baby is impaired by fatigue, alcohol or drug use.
Additionally, couch sleeping is very risky. The risks of sleep-related infant deaths are up to 67 times higher when an infant is sleeping with someone on a couch, soft armchair or a cushion.
The statement did say that, while bed-sharing should be avoided, having the infant sleep in the same room as parents in their own crib for at least the first six months is recommended.
Members of Rice County Public Health staff are available to conduct a home safety visit for caregivers of young children. In partnership with Cradle of Hope, a Roseville based nonprofit organization, Public Health staff are also able to provide a portable crib if needed, to ensure that every baby has a safe place to sleep.
Those seeking more information may contact Schumacher at 507-321-4978. Additional information on infant safe sleep can be found at the Minnesota Department of Health website.
Hillmann to meet with district residents
Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann is opening his schedule to meet with residents of the Northfield School District at the end of the month.
Periodically throughout the year, Hillmann has made a habit of inviting parents, caregivers, district residents, and even business and property owners to schedule a meeting about any district-related topic they would like to discuss.
Dr. Hillmann said he will be available to meet with anyone who cares to schedule an appointment on November 29th, from 1-4pm.
All meetings will be held in the superintendent’s office at the district office building.
There are 15-minute and 30-minute time slots available on the 29th. Those wishing to schedule a meeting should contact Anita Aase at aaase@northfieldschools.org.
A statement issued by Dr. Hillmann reminded district residents that he is always willing to have meetings with members of the school community, and these events are specifically intended to provide an explicit invitation in order to reach the wider community.
The Northfield School District is also reminding the Community that the School Board will hold a special work session this afternoon in the high school media center to discuss the Northfield High School Facility situation. The meeting will begin at 5:30pm.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
