Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann has released a statement informing the school district that Dr. Rob Hardy, a former two-term member of the Northfield School Board, will be recommended to fill the absence left when Noel Stratmoen submitted a temporary resignation from the board last month.
During their regular meeting on July 8th, the board accepted Stratmoen’s leave of absence due to health concerns and discussed the process for appointing a temporary replacement. The board voted to direct Chair Claudia Gonzalez George to seek a former board member to serve during his absence because the term Stratmoen is currently filling will expire at the end of the year, and there is only a short time available to bring a new board member up to speed on procedures and protocol.
Dr. Hillmann said the decision the board made was as much a practical one as it is a conscientious one.
“Noel’s term ends in 2024. Technically, his last day of service would be in early January of 2025 because your service rolls until the first meeting in January, so there are nine meetings remaining. The School Board made a very pragmatic decision. These are folks who have been on the board, they know the system, they are able to get up to speed fairly quickly and provide the public with excellent service.”
Hillmann said Gonzalez-George spoke with former board members and she will recommend that Dr. Hardy be appointed at the next School Board meeting on August 12th.
Hardy was elected to the board twice and held office from 2013 to 2021.He did his undergraduate work and received a B.A. from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. at Brown University. He has taught at Carleton College and was the Northfield Arts and Culture Commission’s first poet laureate. Currently, Dr. Hardy serves as the Rice County representative on the Southeast Minnesota Arts Council.
If approved at the August 12th meeting, Hardy will be immediately seated on the board.
Night to Unite designed to bring neighbors together across the country
Party registration for Northfield’s Night to Unite is officially open.
Northfielders will celebrate the Night to Unite, formerly known as National Night Out, on August 6th this year, with neighborhood block parties held throughout town.
A statement issued by the city said, all registered hosts will receive a free party kit that includes activities for kids, compliments of the Northfield Police Department and the Northfield Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention.
Night to Unite is an annual event held on the first Tuesday of August, which is meant to build community and promote safety in Northfield. “When families know one another and communicate frequently,” the statement said, “it can have a positive effect on the whole community.” The event is also meant to build positive connections between residents and law enforcement.
Police Chief Mark Elliot has spoken about Night to Unite in the past and called it a good opportunity for people to get to know their neighbors. Studies have shown that connections among people who live in a common area will have a marked effect on the awareness of neighborhood activity and neighborhood safety.
The statement said registered parties for the evening can receive a visit from representatives of the Northfield police department, the fire department, emergency medical services, the mayor, or city staff.
Registration forms in both English and Spanish can be found online on the Night to Unite page of the Northfield city website at northfieldmn.gov. They are also available at the Northfield Police Department
The deadline to register is July 26th. For more information, call the Northfield Police Department at 507-645-4477.
Council will begin working on the 2025-26 budget this evening
And the Northfield City Council will meet for a work session tonight in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Items on the agenda tonight will include an update and discussion on the Mill Towns trail, as well as an assessment of the Northfield Streets and Parks Department. The item most likely to receive the most attention this evening, however, will be the beginning of the 2025-2026 Budgeting Season. The work done by the city every year to set the budget for the following year can be a long and sometimes tedious process that always begins at mid-year. The Council is required by state statute to set the preliminary tax levy in September. The final budget will most likely be approved at the City Council meeting on December 3rd.
As always, the City Council and the Northfield City Staff are eager to hear the opinions of the public on any matter, whether the subject is on the Council agenda or not. The meeting tonight is a work session, so the Council will not hear from the public. However, those who do wish to make a point, air an opinion or ask a question can email their councilor directly or make use of the eComment function which can be found in the “Agendas” section of the city website.
The meeting will begin tonight at 6pm.
KYMN Daily News 7/16/24
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
