By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
The Northfield City Council meets tonight for one of their last meetings before the election. Tonight’s meeting will be a work session where the council does not take any votes but instead hears in-depth presentations from City Staff about different projects and ordinances.
At tonight’s meeting, four items are on the presentation and discussion agenda. First is an update on the Water Treatment Plant Project. City Staff will give an update on the funding for the project, including attempts to receive federal funding, and they will talk about future steps and timeline for the project. The project is being proposed because the city has more manganese in drinking water than health guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health recommends for infants under one years old. The water treatment plant’s issue and cost has become a major debate point in the Mayor and City Council election.
Afterward, the council will then review a land ordinance and zoning lanes, followed by an update on the comprehensive plan.
The other main topic will be discussing the City Budget and Tax Levy for 2025. At the September 17th meeting, the City Council voted to approve a Preliminary Tax Levy Increase of 17.2%. Mayor Rhonda Pownell and Councilor Davin Sokup both voted against the preliminary levy, and almost every member of the council expressed hesitancy regarding the 17.2% increase. Through the fall, the council, working with city staff, will continue to adjust the budget and tax levy. The final levy can come down but can not be raised over the preliminary levy. The final budget and tax levy will be voted on in the beginning of December.
Because the meeting is a work session, no public comment session will be held. The public is welcome to attend in person or watch online. You can watch online by going to northfieldmn.gov and then clicking the “Agenda & Minutes” button in the middle of the home page. From there, find tonight’s meeting date to watch, as well as a copy of the agenda and other meeting documents.
Tonight’s meeting starts at 6pm in the City Council Chambers of City Hall.
