By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
The Northfield City Council meets tonight for a regular meeting, and it’s set to be another busy meeting. The meeting will start with a presentation by the Convention and Visitors Bureau, a group that is closely linked with the Chamber of Commerce and uses part of the Hotel Tax to help market and promote Northfield to Tourists.
The council will then have four public hearings on items. First, consideration will be given to establishing a Special Services District for Downtown. Downtown property owners submitted a petition in August for the Council to consider establishing the district to address snow removal and trash collection. The goal is to lower the costs of both services for building owners and, in the case of snow removal, to have all sidewalks cleared simultaneously.
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Picture credit: Logan Wells/KYMN News
Picture by Logan Wells/KYMN News
Councilor Kathleen Holmes, who has helped advocate for a Special Services District, voiced her support earlier in September:
“So I’ve heard from many business owners, many building owners downtown, about the pain and the challenges that they have in the inconsistencies, particularly in snow removal, and I think then also with the varied contracts and the varied services that they get with refuse, trash, and or recycling.” – Kathleen Holmes, Northfield City Councilor at the 9/9/2025 City Council Meeting
Councilor Chad Beumer expressed concerns with the plan in September, worrying it could hurt smaller businesses while helping the larger ones:
“The downtown businesses that have just the 15 feet of sidewalk, it might not save them any more money, but it’s probably going to cost them more money. Part of my big concerns is that not every business downtown owns the building that their in. And I think it’s fair to say that some of the businesses downtown are probably just getting by just enough to the point where they’re keeping the doors open.” – Chad Beumer, Northfield City Councilor at the 9/9/2025 City Council Meeting
Also on the Council meetings agenda will be a public hearing for the city’s Residential Trash removal contracts and a public hearing for issuing bonds for the Jefferson Square Housing projects.
On the regular agenda, the council will vote to approve the Water Utility Rates for 2026 and an ordinance regarding transparency in Water Bills for the Manufactured Home Parks in Northfield.
Will have more information about tonight’s meeting on our website in today’s news
The public is welcome to attend in person or watch online. To watch online, go to northfieldmn.gov and click 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 takes place at 6pm in the Council Chambers of the Northfield City Hall.
Editor’s Note: Logan Wells is a member of the Board of Directors for the Friends of Downtown, which has advocated for the proposed Special Services District Downtown. He has recused himself from the Board’s Advocacy of the SSD.
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