June 7, 2023

City of Owatonna Honors Juneteenth

All City buildings will be closed June 19in honor of Juneteenth. This holiday was recently approved by Governor Walz recognizing the day when President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect for every enslaved person behind confederate lines. On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and read Order Number Three, informing the enslaved residents of Texas of their freedom.

Help Define Owatonna’s Brand!

Community Members Invited to Participate in June 15 Creative Workshop

Since last year, City staff, the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism and several local businesses have been working on a community-wide branding initiative. An authentic community brand is linked to the characteristics of its people, the region, the culture, the businesses and organizations as well as its history.

North Star Place Branding & Marketing kicked off the research phase of the branding initiative in January with a survey, focus groups and one-on-one interviews. Next, the community has an opportunity to see how the research findings translate into creative concepts that will create a foundation for the community-wide brand. Everyone in the community is invited to attend the Community Creative Workshop on June 15 from 6-7:30 pm at the Steele County History Center. North Star’s representatives will present highlights of the research.

Community members are encouraged to participate in this creative phase of developing Owatonna’s community-wide brand that tells Owatonna’s story in a compelling way for visitors, business owners and residents. Come to the workshop prepared to share what makes Owatonna authentic and distinct and why it’s a great place to live, work, shop, have fun, raise a family or conduct business.

To register for the workshop, please visit brandingowatonna.com. The community-wide branding project is a collaborative initiative being supported by the City of Owatonna, Owatonna Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, Owatonna Partners for Economic Development, Visit Owatonna, MainStreet Owatonna, Federated Insurance, Wenger Corporation, Fastenal, Daikin, Mayo Clinic Health System and Climate by Design.

City of Owatonna Recognized for Governmental Accounting Practices

The City of Owatonna was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) on May 16 for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021.

The report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

"The City of Owatonna utilizes best practices to ensure its financial foundation reflects our Strategic Priorities and plans for our community’s future," said City Administrator Kris Busse. "This award recognizes the work City staff has done under the City Council’s leadership to be fiscally responsible while providing the services the community has come to expect."

To view the City of Owatonna’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports, visit Owatonna.gov and click on “Departments” and “Finance” or ask for the hard copy at the Owatonna Public Library.

City Supports Job Creation Fund Application for Daikin Applied

At its June 6 meeting, the City Council adopted a resolution to support a Job Creation Fund application for Daikin Applied. Daikin is proposing to renovate and upgrade the interior office areas at their facility on Park Drive. The idea is to bring the office area up to current design standards, provide necessary upgrades to become ADA compliant, improve security, increase the number of workstations, conduct asbestos abatement and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Daikin estimates project costs to be approximately $2 million. The project will result in adding 20 new jobs. Daikin is applying for assistance from the State of Minnesota for this project through the Job Creation Fund. This required a resolution of support from the City.

Photo of campfire with marshmallow roasting

Recreational Fire Guidelines

Be considerate of the neighbors

Sitting under the stars by a crackling fire has its appeal. It’s where stories are told, sing-a-longs happen, and meals are cooked over an open flame. Campfires bring family and friends together. While recreational fires are allowed within the City of Owatonna without a permit, the following requirements must be followed:

Fires may be no larger than three feet in diameter and two feet in height and contained within a pit or devise designed for such use. Fires must be at least 25 feet away from all buildings or combustible materials such as wood, paper, and plastics.
Recreational fires must be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. A fire extinguisher, charged garden hose, dirt or sand must be readily available to extinguish the fire.
The only materials allowed in a recreational fire are unpainted and untreated dry wood, coal, or charcoal.
Be aware of very dry and high wind conditions which might render the fire unsafe.

For more information, visit the Fire Department FAQ’s on owatonna.gov.

West Hills Social Commons

Fraud Prevention Class for Seniors

As technology advances so do the tactics of scammers. Being aware of what to look for can provide protection from becoming the next victim. On June 12 from Noon to 1 pm, the Owatonna Police Department and other experts will share knowledge on fraud prevention and what to do if it happens. This free and informative program is free for all and includes complimentary coffee. To join, registration is necessary and can be done by calling 507-444-4321 or visiting the West Hills Social Commons.

Coffee Conversations
Join City staff once a month for a cup of coffee and hear all about the exciting things we are working on. This event is free to anyone in the community who wants to learn more about the West Hills Social Commons and meet our staff. Registration is not required but preferred to make sure we have enough supplies. Join us for a great conversation. Call 507-444-4321 to sign up. The next Coffee Conversations will be June 12 from 11 a.m. until noon and July 14 from 11 a.m. until noon.

Mosquito Spraying to Begin Monday, June 12

The City of Owatonna Parks Maintenance Division will begin spraying for mosquitoes on June 12 (weather permitting) and continue throughout the week until the whole city is complete. Spraying will begin around wooded areas. For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 507-444-4321.

County Highway 48 (Bixby Road) Closing for Construction

Steele County Highway 48, Bixby Road, from US 218 to Havana Road will be closed to traffic for construction beginning June 12. A detour will be posted using US 14, Austin Road, Grove Avenue and Main Street. 18th Street SE from Cornerstone Lane to SE 24th Avenue will also be closed. No detour will be posted, but traffic should use alternate routes.

The project will construct a roundabout at the Bixby Road and 18th Street SE intersection to improve safety and address anticipated traffic volume increases. The highway is scheduled to be reopened to traffic late August. All dates are subject to change due to weather or other factors. Steele County advises motorists to drive with caution and slow down through work zones for their own safety and for the safety of the construction crews.

For updates on this or other Steele County Highway construction projects, visit steelecountymn.gov.

2023 City Construction Projects

City Council Approved Bids

The City Council voted unanimously at its June 6 meeting to approve bids for the following construction projects this summer.

2023 Street & Utility Project: This project involves various levels of reconstruction on Butternut Avenue, Riverview Place and School Street. Wencl Construction of Owatonna was awarded the $1,112,754 contract for this summer’s work.

Havana Road Project: This project involves reconstructing Havana Road from Truman Avenue to Smith Avenue. Wencl Construction of Owatonna was awarded the contract for $1,043,136.

2023 Overlay Prep Project: Sections of 20th Street NE, Prairie Place NE, Bellflower Lane NE and Prairie Lane NE south to Jerake Place are included in this project which involves replacing and adjusting manhole castings and structures. The street will then be overlayed with new asphalt. This process preserves the life of the street. A request for quotes was sent using the OpenGov Procurement Portal. D & M Construction of Owatonna was awarded the $53,256 contract for the preparation portion of the project. The City of Owatonna Streets Department will complete the paving portion of the project.

Additional information including maps, timelines and updates relating to construction projects scheduled to take place this summer can be found online at Construction Projects | Owatonna, MN.

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