The Northfield City Council held an emergency meeting yesterday afternoon and extended the Citywide State of Emergency through July 9th.
The time was increased from the initial three-day period to allow for several short-term and long-term flood mitigation measures to be taken. City staff is now authorized to acquire whatever materials and services might be needed to preserve life and property. According to the resolution, this includes the performance of public work, entering into contracts, the incurring of obligations, employment of temporary workers, rental of equipment, purchase of supplies and materials, limitations upon tax levies, and the appropriation and expenditure of public funds.
The Council also approved a resolution that will allow city staff to apply for Federal and State relief money to help with repairs, restoration and cleanup work.
Meanwhile, the City of Dundas is dealing with the flooded river as well. Dundas City Administrator Jenelle Teppen said quite a bit of work went into sandbagging the infield at Memorial Park to ensure the Dundas Dukes’ infield would not wash away. River waste, including some downed trees, has collected at the Hester Street bridge over the Cannon. The bridge will have to be inspected and evaluated, she said, but she doesn’t anticipate any major damage. By and large, with the exception of one new city feature and possibly one private home, the city is in pretty good shape.
“Our new dog park is underwater. The brand new fence has been pushed over. But this is in the flood area and purposefully over time there has been no developments in those river flood prone areas.”
Rice County has put out a call for volunteers willing to assist their neighbors with that flood-related clean-up and those who could use a helping hand.
The county has set up a hotline for organizations or volunteers willing to help. A page has been put on the Rice County website for volunteers to sign up as well. The same toll-free number and online registration form can be used by county residents needing help with flood clean up, and by residents and business owners to document storm-related property and crop damage.
The hotline number is 1-833-643-7423. Volunteers should provide a contact name, a phone number and an estimate as to how many individuals they have who are willing to help. During non-business hours, callers should leave a message with the requested information. Those needing help or reporting damage should include their name, address, contact information, a brief description of damage incurred, a damage estimate and whether losses are covered by flood insurance.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Dundas City Administrator Jenelle Teppen can be heard here
Hillmann says Stratmoen is a ‘legend’
Noel Stratmoen of the Northfield School Board has once again exercised an option that allows him to tender a temporary resignation from the board for at least 90 days due to health concerns.
Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann said he received a letter from Stratmoen late last week and after the two spoke, Hillmann said Stratmoen is feeling better, but he agreed this is the right path forward.
This is the second time Stratmoen has stepped away from the board in 18 months. He previously took a leave in December of 2022, returning last August.
The board will now have to begin the process to find an appointed temporary board member to fill Stratmoen’s seat until such time as he feels he is ready to return. Because Stratmoen is stepping aside for health-related reasons, state statute allows for the board to appoint a temporary board member in his place. Hillmann said that is an example of a very helpful law.
“I shared this before when Noel took advantage of this option in 2022. This is just good governance. It allows people who have been elected in this case, Noel has been elected consecutively since 1980. 1980! The people of this community have trusted his judgment, and he’s using that again to say, ‘I need to step away for a little bit.’ This is just what good governance looks like.”
Dr. Hillmann was optimistic for Stratmoen, saying when they spoke, he sounded well on the road to recovery, but finding someone to sit in Stratmoen’s seat is a difficult and emotional task for the board. He said it is important to have seven members on the board, so action like this must be taken, but it is not easy. Noel Stratmoen and his wife Lois are beloved figures in Northfield who command a substantial amount of love and respect among their peers and their community.
“Let’s just put it out there, Noel is a legend in this community and in this state. And you can’t talk about Noel without talking about Lois. Noel and Lois are pillars of this community. They have done more for Northfield than many others will probably ever do. Just wonderful pillars of our community.”
Stratmoen was first elected to the Northfield School Board forty-four years ago and, after winning his seat in a total of twelve consecutive elections, has become the longest tenured current member of any school board in the State of Minnesota. Dr. Hillmann praised Stratmoen for his dedication to the Northfield Community, especially its young people, and he asked everyone in the community to keep Noel and Lois in their hearts and to pray for a speedy recovery.
The Northfield School Board will discuss the situation at their next meeting on July 8th.
New program will celebrate and teach diverse heritage of Rice County
Healthy Community Initiative has announced that the organization recently received a grant of nearly $110,000 from the Minnesota Humanities Center to support a new after-school and summertime initiative in Rice County called CULTUREtime that will celebrate and teach art, culture, and heritage. The program will be operated within the PRIMEtime initiative, which is a network that provides after-school and summer activities at no cost to more than 3,000 kids each year. CULTUREtime will greatly expand the arts and music offerings for youth while also launching a new series of cultural activities that lift up the heritages of Rice County’s diverse communities.
The statement said HCI was one of 86 Minnesota organizations selected to receive a Legacy Cultural Heritage Award from the Minnesota Humanities Center.
KYMN Daily News 6/26/24
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
