Registration for the Community Action Center’s holiday gift giving program, Operation Joy, is set to close today, and the CAC is reminding the community that there is still time to make a financial donation that will help to enhance a local family’s holiday experience.
Lisa Percy of the CAC said the program has been in place for nearly 50 years, and it has grown quite a bit just in the three years that she has been with CAC. With 24 local business partners and many private donors, Operation Joy will help almost 1000 local children this year.
The CAC gladly accepts donations for Operation Joy all year, but the push for the program begins in the fall. As planning is required to determine the amount of each gift card, the organization is asking people to make a donation today.
Every child registered for Operation Joy will receive a book from Content Book store. The family will receive a handmade quilt, and a Target gift card for every child as well. Percy said the program has evolved to the gift card approach, for several reasons.
“A few years ago with Covid, we moved to gift cards instead of toys. And we found that that’s the best thing for our families. They get to choose that perfect special gift for their child. And so monetary donations are really what we are in need of right now. Our donations are down a little bit this year. And so, we are still looking for monetary donations to help us support those those children.”
Percy said that parents know what their kids want, and gift cards provide a more dignified and empowering way for the parents to be able to buy their kids a present.
According to the CAC website, 100% of each donation will be used to purchase gift cards, and there are incentives for a company to make a donation as well.
There is still time to register for Operation Joy, but the deadline is today. Those in need of assistance can register on the CAC website. Registrants will receive a confirmation and an appointment time. Registration is compulsory to participate. Percy said Distribution Day is set for Wednesday, December 6th.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Lisa Percy of Operation Joy can be heard here
Northfield Police Department accepting applications for two more patrol positions through Sunday
The Northfield Police Department is once again looking to hire new patrol officers in the hopes that they will be fully staffed by mid-2024.
For the past three years, staffing has been a major problem for police departments across the country. Fewer people are looking to law enforcement as a career for several reasons ranging from questions of police reform to the type of work/life balance and working conditions that are not always afforded to a police officer.
Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott said the problem is not something that is new in the last three years. He has seen, as the Baby Boom generation ages out of law enforcement, a new generation entering the workforce that does not subscribe to the model that has been in place with law enforcement for generations. No longer are new recruits happy to work 50-60 hour work weeks and reap the benefits of overtime pay. The shift has forced law enforcement agencies across the country to find ways to attract new police and retain the officers they already have with higher wages and bonuses for both hiring and retention.
The NPD has been near full staff most of the last three years, but the department is now being faced with retirement challenges. Elliott has asked for and received help from City Leadership to hire more officers in advance of the retirements of four members of the department’s leadership team that were expected in 2024.
This summer, the Northfield City Council approved a new pay scale for police officers that both increased officer pay, and accelerated their ability to make more money, and the change might be paying off. While two of the four officers chose to retire early this past fall, the other two have deferred their retirements until the latter part of 2024. And Elliott said the department has recently made two job offers. The hope, he said, even with the retirements, is 2024 could be the year when the department no longer has spaces to fill.
“We do have an open process, actually through Sunday, people can still apply, and we’re looking to hire two more officers. It takes about six months for us to get folks through our field training program to where they’re out on their own and filling a spot in our schedule. Provided we get those folks hired and in place we’re on track to be fully staffed again by summer.”
Applications for two more patrol officer positions will be accepted through Sunday. For more information, visit the Police Department page on the Northfield website at northfieldmn.gov.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott can be heard here
Malecha happy to see Faribault company contracted to build Highway 19 roundabout
Rice County Commissioner Galen Malecha said the delayed roundabout planned for the I-35, Highway 19 interchange will be built in 2024.
Last month, the Rice County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $4.76 million contract to build the six-legged roundabout at the east side of I-35 on Highway 19. The project will connect the highway with the interchange’s northbound on and off ramps as well as the frontage roads on either side of the interstate.
Malecha said he is very happy to see the construction contract go to a local company.
“The bid has been approved for BCM construction out of Faribault. They will be the general contractor of the project, so it’s really nice to have somebody local within the county that will be doing the project. Those dollars stay in the county. I think there were 8 submittals of bids. And they were the lowest responsible bidder.”
The county, according to Commissioner Malecha, has secured about $3.5 million in grants to cover project costs and continues to search for additional grants to lessen the amount of money for which the county will be responsible.
According to a statement issued by the county, project staging is expected to include a temporary road under the I-35 overpass. Highway 19 traffic will be maintained throughout the construction, however County Roads 46 and 59, and the northbound I-35 ramp will be closed at times.
Work is expected to begin next spring and be completed sometime in late summer or early fall.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Rice County Commissioner Galen Malecha can be heard here
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
