Politics & Government
Northfield Council Preview: Key, Post Office and Transit Updates
Councilors will decide how to redevelop a new city property, vote to send a letter to the USPS lobbying to keep the downtown post office; and begin reforming the city's bus system.
With its sale all but final, Northfield city councilors will vote Tuesday night to determine how to use the former Key property in the west central portion of the city's downtown.
Councilors are likely to delegate the redevelopment of the property, which it agreed to buy for $49,000 in April, to its Economic Development Authority or city staff.
Attorney David Hvistendahl, co-owner of the adjacent , shut down since it was damaged by last September's flood, has expressed interest in purchasing the property and its adjoining property, which the city also owns.
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In emails exchanged with city administrator Tim Madigan, Hvistendahl said the purchase would allow the dormant pub to expand its outdoor seating and dining area.
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Councilors are set to approve a letter to the District Area Manager for the United States Postal Service asking the federal office to rescind its decision to relocate window and postal box services to the carrier annex on the south end of town.
A task force with representatives from city government and local businesses has been in talks with USPS officials to find ways to save the agency money without closing the downtown office, built in 1936.
In transit
Due to expected steep cuts from the state and a loss of ridership, city staff have advised councilors to reform the dial-a-ride bus transit system Northfield uses in favor of a schedule of regular stops.
Council approval is required for city staff to plan a so-called route deviation model, which operates like a larger city's bus service but allows deviating one to four blocks to pick up riders with mobility issues. In a memo to councilors, City Engineering Resources Manger Brian Welch said the switch would be "more efficient and ultimately more serviceable" and make Northfield's system less likely to suffer cuts by the state department of transportation.
Northfield Transit currently gets 80 percent of its budget from state and federal subsidies. Ridership has decreased 20 percent since 2009-10 after St. Olaf and Carleton colleges stopped using the service.
The council meets 7 p.m. Tuesday at .
