Government

The Northfield News posted three stories late today to announce that four more candidates have thrown their hat into the mayoral race: former Planning Commission and school board member Eduardo Wolle, fourth ward Councilor Jon Denison, Mayor Lee Lansing, and lawyer James Schlichting. These four will join previously-declared candidates David Hvistendahl, Paul Hager, and Mary Rossing in a September 9 primary election. The two highest vote-getters will move on to the November 4th general election.

Not to be outdone by all those presumably serious candidates, playwright, blogger, and Northfield.org board member Brendon Etter has launched a write-in campaign. Is he serious? Is he ever serious? You be the judge.

We received this announcement this morning from Mary Rossing, owner of Present Perfect, president of the NDDC, board member of the Chamber of Commerce, and (in the interest of full disclosure) a friend of mine...

After much deliberation and conversation with a wide variety of citizens, I am announcing my candidacy for Mayor of Northfield.  I believe that the citizens of Northfield deserve another choice for their civic leader. I believe I am the right person to bring back a sense of civility, respect and pride to our local government.  I believe the citizens of Northfield are ready for a change and are looking for a leader that can move us ahead in a positive way as we face the challenges of the next four years. 

The Northfield Mayor’s Task Force (MTF) on Youth Alcohol & Drug Use, in collaboration with Project Sight, has created a “Talking Points” program for parents looking for ways to jumpstart conversations with their children. The goal of Talking Points is to encourage open communication between adults and teenagers that supports efforts to raise healthy teens.

The HRA has completed the first round of work on the new Southbridge Addition, culminating in a preliminary design layout. To kick off our next round of work, we are excited to announce a contest to name the development! "Southbridge 2nd Addition" doesn’t incorporate any of the elements of the location or green design that is going into the neighborhood. The name will be used on all documents and advertising for the neighborhood. Creativity, incorporation of green or sustainable ideas, healthy living and inclusiveness are all elements in a name we hope to see from the community! And people of all ages are encouraged to participate!

It is not too soon to consider running for office. The filing period for the Northfield City Council, Mayor, and School Board and the Rice County Board of Commissioners is July 1-15.

The League of Women Voters has produced a handy tool for prospective candidates. Judy Covey, who designed the brochure, hopes it will make it easier to prepare to be a candidate. As a non-partisan organization dedicated to encouraging citizen participation, the League believes running for office is one of the best ways to serve the community.

In preparation for the September primary as well as the November general election, the League is planning a number of events designed to familiarize voters with candidates and issues, including on-line candidate forums. Watch northfield.org and the League web site, lwvnorthfieldmn.org, for further information.

Erica Zweifel is announcing her intention to file for Northfield’s Third Ward City Council Seat.  Her campaign will focus on building a strong community citywide and issues unique to the third ward.  “I love living in the third ward but there are some challenges to living on the west side of town that I would like to see addressed, such as improving the walkability of the ward and safe crossings for Highway 3 so that west side residents can more easily access downtown businesses by bike or by foot”.

Those interested in the city council public hearing on the capital improvement plan at 7:00 Monday, will find a copy of the plan under “News and Announcements” on the city’s web site: http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us.

This is an opportunity to learn about and weigh in on projects such as the library, safety center, city hall, liquor store and other facilities as well as city services and infrastructure.

At the Monday, June 2 city council meeting, there will be a public hearing on the city’s planning for capital projects. The presentation will concentrate on the 2008 and 2009 projects. As part of the council’s regular meeting, the hearing will be held in the council chambers at City Hall.

A committee of three council members and the mayor, as well as four staff members, has worked to balance capital needs with available resources to design a five-year-plan that will provide an orderly and affordable approach to meeting the capital needs. The plan ties in with the city’s long-range financial planning process and the City Council’s goals, and solicits broad community input as part of the annual review process. Included in the plan are facilities including the City Hall, Public Safety Center, and Library. Other components include city streets and infrastructure, utilities, and community enhancements such as the Ice Arena and Park Development and Facilities.

The Northfield Public Library is hosting a series of planning meetings at St. John's Lutheran Church Tuesday, May 13, May 27 and June 10, from 7-9 p.m. to answer an important question: Can the public library be expanded on its present site to serve the community for the next 20 years?

Topics for the three meetings are:

• Tuesday, May 13: Dreams and visions for the library and community.
• Tuesday, May 27: Ideas for ways to expand the library on its current location.
• Tuesday, June 10: Concepts and options.

Visit the Library's Picture the Possibilities Blog for more information and notes from the May 13 meeting.

The Northfield Public Library is hosting a series of planning meeting at St. John's Lutheran Church Tuesday, May 13, May 27 and June 10, from 7-9 p.m. to answer an important question: Can the public library be expanded on its present site to serve the community for the next 20 years?

Topics for the three meetings are:

• Tuesday, May 13: Dreams and visions for the library and community.
• Tuesday, May 27: Ideas for ways to expand the library on its current location.
• Tuesday, June 10: Concepts and options.

Margit Johnson, chair of the Library Board, sent us word about a series of upcoming planning meetings. I grabbed the information below from a post on the new Library Planning web site at http://nplfuture.blogspot.com/.

Help answer the question: Can a 21st Century Library fit into a 19th and 20th century neighborhood?

You’re invited to a series of informational and brainstorming events to explore the challenges and possibilities for an expansion of the Northfield Public Library at its current location (Third and Washington Sts.)

Here is your chance to share your thoughts, dream big and envision the future of the library building!

The Northfield Public Library is hosting a series of planning meeting at St. John's Lutheran Church Tuesday, May 13, May 27 and June 10, from 7-9 p.m. to answer an important question: Can the public library be expanded on its present site to serve the community for the next 20 years?

Topics for the three meetings are:

• Tuesday, May 13: Dreams and visions for the library and community.
• Tuesday, May 27: Ideas for ways to expand the library on its current location.
• Tuesday, June 10: Concepts and options.

Two official Sesquicentennial banners are on tour, making stops at libraries across the state. One of the banners will be in Northfield this Thursday and Friday, May 8-9.

The banner will be presented to Northfield officials by the James Gang. Each banner is accompanied by a leather-bound journal in which visitors can write thoughts about Minnesota and the Sesquicentennial. People are invited to sign the journal at Bridge Square on Thursday, May 8th at 6pm, following a ceremonial presentation. The banner and the journal will be at the Northfield Public Library all day Friday from 9:30am – 5:30pm.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) will visit St. Olaf College on Saturday, May 3, to participate in a discussion with faculty and students on climate change initiatives in Congress and on the nation's campuses. A panel of faculty members and students will share information on research and grassroots educational activities taking place at St. Olaf.

The forum will be held from 1-2 p.m. in Christiansen Hall of Music, Urness Recital Hall. It is free and open to the public.

Read more at stolaf.edu ...

Veteran political strategist and Democratic super delegate Donna Brazile will speak at St. Olaf Tuesday, April 29, at 7 p.m. in the Lion's Pause student club on the lower level of Buntrock Commons. The event is free and open to the public. The St. Olaf Political Awareness Committee is sponsoring the event.

Appointed as a Democratic super delegate in 1998 by Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Dick Gephardt, Brazile is one of the 796 super delegates to this year's Democratic National Convention. During her lecture she will talk about her political experiences and the role of super delegates in the nomination process.

Read more at stolaf.edu ...