Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott has informed the City of Northfield that he intends to retire on September 27th.
Elliott was hired as Deputy Chief of Police in 2019 and was named Chief in August of 2020 when former Chief Monty Nelson retired. Elliott brought with him a “Community Policing” philosophy that has served both the community and the department well during an uneasy period for police across the country.
Northfield City Administrator Ben Martig praised Elliott for his work in a letter informing the Mayor and the City Council of the Chief’s decision. In particular, Martig singled out his leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic, and his ability to attract and retain police officers to and within the Northfield Police Department during a national police shortage and at a time when the competition for good police officers is very high. Martig also commended Elliott for his administrative work within the department. During his tenure as Chief, Elliott initiated an independent comprehensive review of the Police Department, focusing on staffing policies and operational assessment, and ensured transparency with the community by posting the police department’s revised policy manual online. Elliott pushed hard for the creation of a body-worn camera program and oversaw the implementation of the program from selecting the hardware to creating a position that puts a priority on correctly handling the data they collect. He also has put more emphasis on mental health for police officers, and he has been a tireless advocate for drug education, enforcement, and recovery programs, particularly with regard to the Opioid crisis and the use of fentanyl.
In his letter to the city announcing his retirement date, Elliott thanked the city’s leadership and staff for the support given to the Northfield Police Department, and said he believes the Northfield Police Department is well positioned “to continue delivering exceptional police services in a caring and compassionate manner,” after he is gone.
Martig said a search for the next Northfield Chief of Police, with Elliott’s assistance, is underway.
City will apply for federal money over three years
The $1.2 Trillion spending bill passed by Congress last week means the City of Northfield will begin to receive the federal grant money it was awarded for the construction of the new drinking water treatment plant.
In late 2022, the federal government awarded the City of Northfield a $25 million grant in order to build the new facility, after a 2021 water study found high levels of manganese in the city’s drinking water supply. It is estimated that the grant will cover approximately 75% of the construction costs.
Last week, a statement issued by the St. Paul District of the Army Corps of Engineers said the City of Northfield would receive $3.95 million in the current fiscal year for the design phase of the project.
According to Northfield Public Works Manager Justin Wagner, the city will have to apply for the rest of the grant money over the next two years.
“For fiscal year 2025 and 2026,” he said, “the city will be seeking $11,064,375 each year, to get to a total over the three years of $25,087,500.
He also said that the city will continue to seek additional funding sources to further help pay for the project.
While the city’s water supply meets federal primary drinking water standards, the levels of manganese exceed the secondary standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health. A high manganese level in drinking water has been found to be harmful to infants, as it can cause learning disabilities, notably attention deficit disorder.
Last month the Northfield City Council received an update on the project, which will be built on newly annexed land near the water tower on Hall Avenue.
The City Council is expected to receive the final plans later this month.
Two Tornado Drills set for Thursday
Today is the first day of Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Week. Each year at the beginning of the spring, the state’s Homeland Security Emergency Management Department works with the National Weather Service to educate and remind people in the state of Minnesota about the dangers of severe weather, what to be aware of, and how best to keep safe during an emergency weather situation.
Northfield Deputy Police Chief PT Haider, who coordinates services in emergency situations along with the city’s Emergency Manager Tim Isom, said a schedule is laid out for the week to focus on different areas.
Today the focus is on emergency alerts and warnings. Tomorrow the emphasis will be on severe thunderstorms, lightning and hale. Floods will be the focus on Wednesday. As wildfires become more of a danger and more prevalent, they will be the topic on Friday, along with extreme heat. The headliner, however, and the thing that first that comes to mind when discussing severe weather is on Thursday.
“Thursday is tornado day, which is the big one. They have two tornado drills scheduled that day for 1:45 and 6:45. The main reason for two, is they want to have one in the middle of the day for work settings and one in the evening for home settings.”
Haider said the main reason for Severe Weather Awareness Week is to make sure people know how to keep safe, and to know what to do in any event. He said it doesn’t take very long to make a plan.
“The biggest thing with severe weather is to be just aware. Have a plan with your family, have a plan at work, have a plan at school. All schools should have a plan for severe weather, tornadoes, severe weather warnings with high winds. It’s important that people are prepared with a plan to make sure everyone around them is safe.”
For more information on Northfield Emergency Services and Severe Weather Awareness Week visit the Emergency Preparedness page in the Police section of the Northfield city website.
KYMN News 4/1/24
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
