The Northfield Public Library is in the early stages of putting together a vision plan for the library grounds, and the staff is asking for public ideas and input as they begin the process.
Northfield Director of Library Services Natalie Draper said the library sits on a unique site, built, essentially, into the side of a hill. Recently the impacts of climate change have become apparent. Heavy rainfall over the past few weeks caused an elm tree to tip over, damaging the roots. The tree has been marked for removal, along with a linden tree shading the west patio. Added to that, an ash tree at the bottom of the steps on Division Street is being treated for emerald ash borer and may eventually need to be removed. Evidence of considerable erosion can be seen in the amount of soil washed down the Division Street steps with each rainfall. Frost heave has already caused the concrete walkways leading from Washington Street to the library to crack and shift.
In addition to addressing these impacts, the vision plan seeks to reduce labor expenses and water use by minimizing or eliminating lawn, reducing pavement where feasible and shading the space as much as possible to diminish summer heat accumulation. Additional goals include, improving access to and from the building, addressing stormwater handling on site to reduce the amount of stormwater running into the river, and increasing ADA-accessible patio spaces to accommodate visitors of all ages and abilities, making the unused spaces more functional for community use.
Draper said the library needs to be thinking about taking advantage of new projects in that same area that are on the near horizon.
“One thing we have is a fairly large site, but it’s not a lot of usable space. If there were ways that we could improve it, for example, if we terraced the west hill, could we then activate that? Would that be seating? Would it be gathering spaces? Would it even be program space? If you think about when the new Archer House is built this could really become something.”
The library is working with TEN x TEN, a landscape architecture and urban design studio in Minneapolis to develop ideas. Architects from that organization will be on hand during the Mark Joseph concert on Wednesday at 6pm asking the public for their input on the project and asking how the community would like to be able to use the library’s exterior spaces.
Draper said this will be the first of several events at which the library will be collecting information this summer.
Human Rights Commission getting a jump on nomination solicitations
The Northfield Human Rights Commission is now seeking nominees for the 2025 Human Rights Award.
To be considered for this award, a nominee should be a local individual, a local group or a local organization that has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to the advancement of human rights in the Northfield area, either through volunteering or through professional efforts.
The Human Rights Commission is seeking a balanced and diverse slate of nominees that contribute to the cause of human rights in a variety of ways. All nominations should include a brief biography of the candidate as well as the reasons the nominee should receive consideration for the award.
The award will be presented during the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. community celebration next January.
Recipients from past years include Scott Wopota, the Executive Director of Community Action Center, Emmaus Church, Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann, Rahmah Abdulai, and the employees of Laura Baker Services Association. The names of each past recipient, dating back to the first Human Rights Award in 1998, are engraved on a plaque in the parking lot entrance of City Hall. They are also listed on the city website.
Nomination forms are available in English and Spanish at northfieldmn.gov/HRAward. Paper copies are available at the Northfield Public Library or can be requested by contacting Claudia Garcia at 507-645-3078 or claudia.garcia@northfieldmn.gov.
The deadline to submit a nomination is November 7th at 8pm.
School board will discuss Stratmoen absence tonight
The Northfield School Board will meet tonight in the boardroom of the Northfield School District office building.
This will be the School Board’s only meeting in the month of July as they continue with a light summer schedule, and as such there are more substantive items on tonight’s agenda than usual.
Perhaps the most important order of business will be attending to the absence of Noel Stratmoen, who has been sidelined since sending Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann a letter dated June 19th stating that health concerns are forcing him to take a leave of absence from the council. Because Stratmoen’s absence will last at least 90 days, the Board will be asked to approve a resolution seeking a temporary replacement. This could mean asking a former member of the board to step back in for the period of Stratmoen’s absence, or it could mean taking applications from the general public.
Other items on the agenda will include discussions of the August filing period for candidates in the School Board elections, and a summary of Hillmann’s annual performance review.
The School Board will always invite public comments from those who live in the Northfield School District. Time for those comments is scheduled at the beginning of each meeting. Registration is required to address the School Board. Those wishing to do so may sign up beginning at 5:30 pm.
Tonight’s meeting will begin at 6:00
KYMN Daily News 7/8/24
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
