May 10, 2023

City Boards & Commission Members Welcomed, Re-appointed & Thanked

The City’s 12 boards and commissions offer 78 seats for volunteers to serve on. Most terms expire April 30. During the May 2 City Council Meeting, Mayor Thomas Kuntz recommended, and the City Council, approved the appointment of the following new board and commission members:

Airport Commission: Daren Tarpenning, Anthony Louris, Madeleine Haberman
Fire Civil Service & Fire Board Code of Appeals: Gordon Henricksen
Human Rights Commission: Mostafe Ismael and Edgar Esquivel
Owatonna Public Utilities Commission (Ward 4): Gregory Vetter
Park & Rec Board: Nan Silkunas
Library Board: Amy Tapp and Quinn Meyer
Shade Tree Commission: Caleb Whalen, Doug Elsner

The mayor also recommended, and the City Council approved, reappointments for these board/commissioners to serve another term:??

Housing & Redevelopment Authority: Vicki Olivo
Park & Rec Board: Jonathan Douglas
Planning Commission: John Eickhoff, Rachel Springer, Kelly Rooks
West Hills Commission: Dan Gorman

Kuntz recognized these board/commission members whose terms ended this year by thanking them for their service:

James Keltgen?	Airport Commission??	8 years?
Justin Lindee??	Airport Commission??	6 years?
Sharon West?	Airport Commission??	10 years?
Kirby Knutson?????	Fire Civil Service and Fire Code of Appeals??	3+ years?
Ryan Gillespie?????	Human Rights Commission??	6 years?
Susie Effertz??	Human Rights Commission??	3+ years?
Matt Kottke??	Owatonna Public Utilities?	10 years?
Greg Posch??	Park Board?	4+ years?
Meredith Mattison?	Library Board?	9 years?
Christy Tyrhus?	Library Board?	5+ years?
Jim Linder?	Shade Tree Commission??	11+ years?
Roger A. Wacek?	Shade Tree Commission??	12 years?

The City of Owatonna encourages community members to attend public meetings and serve on any of its 12 boards and commissions. Notice of all public city meetings and agendas are available at Owatonna.gov including meeting times.

New City board and commissioners being sworn in by the Mayor

Left to right: Gregory Vetter, Anthony Louris, Daren Tarpenning, Amy Tapp, Doug Elsner, Mustafe Ismael, Quinn Meyer, Mayor Thomas Kuntz.

Artist's rendering of new riverfront multi-use development

Riverfront Development Update

Redline Development is proposing to redevelop property along the Straight River north of West Vine Street and west of North Oak Avenue. The proposed project includes 69 luxury apartments, the expansion of Mineral Springs Brewery, 20,000 square feet of commercial space and a new bank building.

To support this redevelopment project, the City Council approved the creation of TIF District 19 and TIF funding for $500,000 for the property the City is contributing. The TIF District can last up to 25 years. The total TIF amount is $7,065,451 for this project with a present-day value of $3,267,514. An interfund loan was also approved to authorize the contribution of the land for the project.

On March 21, the City Council approved development agreements for the project. The public hearings for zoning approvals including vacation of easements, street right-of-way and re-platting nine lots into two were held at the April 11 Planning Commission meeting. The City Council has given preliminary approval to these requests and is expected to give final approval in the next month.

Keeping Owatonna Beautiful

As the weather gets warmer and everyone spends more time outdoors, remember there are ordinances related to exterior property maintenance that need to be followed. Here are a few items to keep in mind:

Grass needs to be less than eight inches tall on developed lots. For vacant lots, it needs to be less than 18 inches tall.
Household trash should be kept in a container designed for such use ensuring that it doesn’t leak and that it is always covered.
Don’t place unwanted items such as furniture or appliances on the right-of-way or in the yard.

Additional information is available on the City of Owatonna website.

2023 Construction Projects

City Projects Approved to Advertise for Bids

Spring is here and 2023 promises to be another busy year of road construction and street maintenance in Owatonna. Visit https://www.owatonna.gov/494/Construction-Projects for project maps, information and to sign up to be notified with updates!

During the May 2 City Council meeting, the following projects were approved for bids to be advertised:

2023 Street & Utility Project: The project involves various levels of reconstruction on Butternut Avenue, Riverview Place, and School Street.
Havana Road Project: The project involves reconstruction of Havana Road from Truman Avenue to Smith Avenue.

Bid information is available on Quest CDN https://www.questcdn.com/. Bids will be opened May 31. City Council approval of bids is expected June 6.

Photo credit MPCA – Sanitary sewer worker holding shovel full of non-degradable materials

Wastewater Reminders

The City of Owatonna Wastewater Treatment Facility would like to remind citizens that nothing, other than toilet paper, should be flushed down the toilet. While there are many products marketed as “flushable” they do not breakdown in the system and are like flushing fabric cloths or rags. These products can be the cause of costly sewer blockages, backups, and damage to municipal pumps.

Some of the items that should not be flushed include:

Baby Wipes and Diapers
Bathroom Cleaning Disinfectant Wipes
Hygienic Products/Wipes

Please remember, sanitary sewer systems were not designed to handle these products. Wipes Clog Pipes! Visit owatonna.gov for more information or click here: "Flushable" Wipes & Sanitary Sewer Problems.

West Hills Social Commons Seniors Updates

In response to feedback received from seniors, several West Hills Social Commons spaces are being refreshed with new paint and flooring. These rooms are designed as dedicated program areas for seniors. Be sure to attend the next Coffee Conversation with City staff to share insights on how best to decorate these spaces or to learn more about the West Hills Social Commons and meet the staff. Registration is not required but is requested to ensure enough coffee is available. Call 507-444-4321 to sign up to attend any of the following Coffee Conversations:

May 17 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
June 12 from 11-12 p.m.
July 14 from 11-12 p.m.

City staff also plans year ‘round outings designed for seniors. Check out these upcoming opportunities (details available at Owatonna.gov):

Join other Owatonna senior citizens for a trip to the Twins Stadium to enjoy some good old-fashioned baseball June 14. Transportation will be provided via coach buses. To register for the trip, please call 507-444-4321.
Owatonna seniors can enjoy another Fall colors paddleboat cruise on the St. Croix River October 12. Following a bus ride from the West Hills Social Commons building, this two-hour narrated public excursion departs from Hudson, Wisconsin and stops in downtown Stillwater before heading back to Owatonna.

Helpful Links

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