Community Survey Investigator: Northfield is 'Extremely Robust'

Four out of five Northfielders think the city is headed in the right direction. And they're willing to pay more in taxes to keep it that way.

That's according to a broad survey of city residents presented at a Tuesday city council work session, which delivered largely positive responses on issues including taxes and public services.

"Overall the state of the city is extremely robust," said Bill Morris, the chief investigator for the study.

He said Northfield residents have a "benign" attitude toward property tax rates—37 percent said their portion is "high" while 44 said it was "about average"—making it the most open to increases in the area.

But survey responses show the city isn't without challenges, and that residents have a dampened appetite for spending. Morris said there is a desire for "judicious cuts."

Among the services regarded as "least essential" are park and trail maintenance and the municipal liquor store. In contrast, residents said public safety and street repair and plowing were most essential.

The foremost challenge for the city, Morris said, is resolving the split over its economic and social vision.

Mirroring a division cited as an obstacle in meetings of its Economic Development Authority, residents are split over whether to preserve Northfield's "small town" character or, on the other side, to develop it as a third-ring suburb by expanding light industry.

The Decision Resources survey, which sampled 400 residents at random, was conducted by telephone earlier this year. Click on the attached documents to view the survey

Post office update: "They're hearing us"

As one of 36,000 facilities, debate over closing is a blip on the nationwide map of a US Postal Service awash in red ink.

But Councilor Suzie Nakasian said that after meeting with the agency's regional manager, there is reason to hope that officials can be convinced to keep the location.

She said the officials, who she recently met with other members of a city task force, are looking for "instant gratification" and are open to alternatives that would cut the $75,000 the agency requires.

"We're in a constant back and forth," she said, adding that community engagement—residents opposing the closure packed a public hearing earlier this month—had made an impression on regional officials. "They're hearing us."

Economic Development Director Jody Gunderson told councilors he last week faxed and emailed Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, Rep. John Kline and other members of the state congressional delegation asking for their support to help preserve the office.

It was that the USPS had selected the downtown Northfield Post Office to consolidate with the carrier annex on Hwy. 3 South. That day served as a 60-day notice for a comment period for possible appeal.

Signatures are still being collected on several petitions. Online petitions can be signed on and the Northfield News. Petitioners can physical copies at Used-A-Bit Shop, Studio Elements, Aquatic Pets, Just Food Co-op and the Northfield News.