Spring Creek Watershed flood mitigation
Last year Bridgewater Township received a grant through the DNR to study the Spring Creek Watershed. WSB Engineering along with the township, Northfield’s engineering department, Carleton’s geology department, Rice County Soil and water and several other entities combined to come up with a plan for flood mitigation. The Northfield Council was presented with their eight point project plan. Northfield owns 1449 acres of the 6700 acre watershed. Mayor Graham says it sounds small but affects us greatly. The Northfield project they’ve identified is to install a 24 inch pipe from a 36 inch culvert under HWY 246 to Spring Creek at the southwest corner of the housing development. This would control the water that flows into Northfield’s stormwater system. Engineer Jasper Kruggel said they want that pipe to be made of concrete rather than pvc for better strength. The approximate cost is $55,000, however, they are still searching out grants that could bring that cost down signficantly. He said it’s important that we be a part of the plan. If the 8 projects proposed within the district are completed, WSB engineers say a 30% reduction in the rate of flow is expected. Roughly speaking this is equivalent to having water 2 feet deep flow through the city for 3 days rather than 6 feet deep flowing through the city in one day. The total volume is largely unchanged but the rate at which it flows is significantly reduced. The total estimated cost of the combined efforts, which include holding ponds and more piping, is $715,000, but Bridgewater continues to apply for grants working with the DNR and other entities. This could come back to Council in late February or March. For more information go to the City’s website and search for Spring Creek Watershed.
Bly on board with Dayton’s budget
House District 20b representative David Bly commented on Governor Dayton’s $42 billion budget saying that he represents the needs and wants of Minnesotans. That would include education, mental health care, nursing home employees and rail safety. Bly added that it will go through committees as it moves through the legislative body and there could be amendments or changes. Bly says, although the Republicans have been critical, they don’t have something to offer either. He says, surprisingly, they don’t have an issue with the dollar number in the budget but rather the priorities of how the money is spent. Currently the Republicans control the House.
Chamber vitality “refocused, refreshed, renewed” at Honoree banquet
This year’s Northfield Chamber of Commerce theme, refocused, refreshed, renewed, was evident last night as the Grand Event Center was packed with business leaders and well wishers as the Chamber held their annual meeting and recognized the 2015 Business Person of the Year, Krin Finger, Business of the Year, Professional Pride Realty and Ambassador of the Year, Marty Benson. The room buzzed with a vitality and optimism not felt for some time. As the honorees were given their awards, each had heartfelt words of gratitude and trust in the future. Executive Director Todd Bornhauser was Master of Ceremonies.
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