On Monday night, the Northfield School Board heard the results of the annual audit performed on the district’s 2022-23 fiscal year.
The audit showed nothing out of place or anything that requires attention and is considered to be “clean.” While these results were not unexpected, Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann said the accomplishment is an impressive one.
This is the third year in a row that the school district has returned a clean audit, in what Hillmann described as three years of very complicated financial regulations. Over the course of 2020, 2021 and 2022, the school district received aid from the state and federal governments to help ease the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Those funds, of course, were highly regulated and had to be both used and accounted for in very specific ways. Hillman praised the district’s Director of Finance, Val Mertesdorf, for her approach to the situation, and put the three clean audits in a row into some rarified air.
“Craig, Copenhagen, who’s the principal with our auditing firm CliftonLarsonAllen, estimates that on an annual basis less than 10% of their clients get a completely clean audit. So, to have three years in a row is really impressive. And I’ve joked a bit that having a completely clean audit is the equivalent of going undefeated in the NFL season and winning the Super Bowl.”
He said Mertesdorf has done an outstanding job of working with the various building administrators and each school’s financial staff to ensure that things are coded properly, and they are keeping track of funds in a way that makes sense to everyone involved. A single clean audit is a relatively rare occurrence, not because there is nefarious activity or ill-intent, but simply because human error is a very common thing. Hillmann called the clean audit a “systems” victory.
“Having systems in place to make sure that there’s a separation of duties so, for example, the same person ordering something is not the same person paying for it. That’s not a perfect example, but do we have checks and balances to make sure that the same person isn’t responsible for a number of procedures or tasks within the system.”
While a clean audit is not something anyone should take for granted, Hillmann said it is something the taxpayers of the school district should expect. He said it should give people confidence in the district’s policies of stewardship and that they can have confidence in how the district handles the money with which they have been entrusted.
Rich Larson’s conversation with Dr. Matt Hillman can be heard here
Four people sought for Charter Commission
The deadline is looming to apply to be a member of the Northfield Charter Commission. The City of Northfield is seeking qualified applicants to fill four positions that are about to be vacated on the city’s Charter Commission. New commissioners will assume a term that would expire on December 31st, 2027.
The City Charter is the constitution of Northfield’s city government. The Charter Commission is responsible for reviewing and revising the City Charter to ensure that it meets all applicable State and Federal laws and meets the needs of the citizens of Northfield.
A statement issued by the City of Northfield said the Commission consists of seven voting members. Each member serves a four-year term as designated by State Statutes. Meetings are the second Thursday of every odd-numbered month at City Hall. These are volunteer positions, and members do not receive compensation.
According to the city website, Commissioners Lance Heisler, Jack Hoschouer, Scott Jensen and CC Linstroth are all serving terms that will expire on December 31st.
Any registered voter of the City of Northfield may apply. Applications are due no later than 4pm this coming Friday.
Paper applications are available at the Northfield Public Library or by emailing the city’s administrative associate and deputy city clerk, Sara Hoffmann or by calling 507-645-3060.
For additional information on the Charter Commission and a link to the online application, please visit the City of Northfield’s website at northfieldmn.gov
Tuba Christmas returns to Northfield
The annual Tuba Christmas concert in Northfield is set for this Saturday afternoon.
The event will take place in Skinner Memorial Chapel, on the campus of Carleton College, under the direction of retired St. Olaf College professor Dr. Paul Niemisto.
Tuba Christmas, presented by Northfield’s Vintage Band Festival, brings euphonium, baritone, sousaphone and tuba players of all ages together to play Christmas carols for the enjoyment of family, friends and the general public. A statement issued by the Vintage Band Festival said, music made by dozens of low brass instruments playing as a choir is an experience not to be missed, either as a participant or as a listener.
This year is the 50th anniversary of Tuba Christmas concert events which are presented throughout the world. The idea was conceived in 1974 by tubist Harvey Phillips of Indiana University as a tribute to his teacher and mentor William J. Bell, who was born on Christmas Day in 1902. The first Tuba Christmas concert was held in the Rockefeller Center ice rink in 1974, and the concept has only grown since. There are now over 300 Tuba Christmas events produced annually throughout the United States and internationally.
The sheet music from which participants will play will be available for purchase at registration. Musicians are invited to decorate their instruments if they so choose.
This event is family-friendly, free and open to the public.
The event will take place in Skinner Memorial Chapel, on the campus of Carleton College. Registration for participants is $10 and will open at noon on Saturday. There will be a rehearsal at 1:00 pm and the performance will be at 3:00 pm. Details for the event can be found at vintagebandfestival.org.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
