By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
In what has been a busy past few weeks for the Northfield City Council, they are set to make another significant decision this week, regarding the rental rates at the Northfield Community Resource Center (NCRC). The building is owned by the city and houses several community institutions, including 50 North, the Community Action Center, Three Rivers Community Action, Healthy Community Initiative, Rice County United Way, and the Library Oasis.
With the city owning the building, it is able to provide the space at a lower rental rate. City staff estimated that the market rate for the space would mean that the CAC would pay nearly $60,000 more a year, and 50 North would pay nearly $300,000 more.. This has also meant that the rent charged at the NCRC is crucial to the city’s overall budget and the extent to which taxpayers support the building. City Administrator Ben Martig states that building needs more financial support in part because of several projects in the next few years:
Listen to the News:
“Yeah, the tie-in relates to our budget because the city has been working to rebuild some of our reserves.The city stepped up to fund some of the deferred maintenance issues above and beyond what our commitments were in our lease agreements just based on the transition of the city taking over the management of that building again.” – Ben Martig, Northfield City Administrator on KYMN In The Morning
Tax dollars help support the building by covering the costs of maintaining all common spaces, as well as Capital expenses, including roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, phone, and other building-wide systems. Northfield Public Works Director Dave Bennitt stated that the now 25-year-old building has several repairs needed:
“The bathrooms are old and outdated. They need to be refreshed and improved. We have original air handling units that need to be replaced in that building. And the chiller is also due for replacement. So just a lot of original items that are really aging.” – Dave Bennett, Northfield Public Works Director/City Engineer at the 6/10/2025 Northfield City Council Work Session
The city has also submitted a bonding request to the state to try to receive assistance with the building costs.
Currently, most of the partners in the NCRC pay $12 per square foot. The two exceptions are Rice County, which is in the middle of a 10-year-long, fixed lease agreement, and 50 North, which currently pays $7.43. The wellness center, and in particular the pool at 50 North, has also complicated the discussion. When asked for comment on the issue, in an email to KYMN, 50 North declined to comment while negotiations were ongoing with the City.
Tomorrow evening, the City Council will vote to approve rental increases of 6% in 2026 and 2027 for the CAC, HCI, United Way, Workforce Development Inc., and Three Rivers Community Action. With 50 North at a lower rental rate, there have been proposals to phase in the rent increases. The lease for the senior center will come up on October 21st as the two organizations continue to negotiate and review the documents.
Will keep you posted as this discussion continues.
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