Election Judges Needed!

Presidential Nominating Primary Election March 5, 2024

The Presidential Nominating Primary Election is just two months away. For information about serving as an Election Judge, please contact Jeanette Clawson, Administrative Coordinator, at 507-774-7341.

Who may be an Election Judge? An election judge must be:

1. Eligible to vote in the State of Minnesota
2. Able to read, write and speak English
3. Appointed by the appointing authority (County, City, Township, School Board)
4. Trained and currently certified as an Election Judge

Individuals applying to be an election judge need to declare their party affiliation if they are affiliated with a major political party.

 An election judge cannot be:

1. A candidate in that election.
2. The husband, wife, parent, child, stepchild, brother, sister or stepsibling of a candidate or another judge in the same precinct.
3. A challenger.

Individuals who are related to each other may serve as election judges in the same precinct if they serve on separate shifts that do not overlap. Minnesota Election Laws in State Stature 204B.21 state that Election Judge appointments shall be made from the lists received from the major political parties of qualified voters who signed up at the caucuses held earlier in the year and letters were sent to individuals on the lists received from the political parties.

City Meetings This Week 

The public is invited to attend the following City meetings this week. Agendas, meeting minutes and City Council packets are available in the Agenda Center on the City’s website: https://owatonna.gov/agendacenter. 

January 22: Housing & Redevelopment Authority Meeting at 4 p.m. in the Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle.

January 23: Owatonna Public Utilities Commission Meeting at 4 p.m. in the Morehouse Meeting Room at Owatonna Public Utilities, 208 S Walnut Avenue.

Winter Plowing Tips 

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A little patience and a cooperative attitude are essential for getting through the winter plowing season. When citizens, plowing contractors and City crews work together, frustrations that can accompany winter snowstorms can be minimized. There are several actions residents can take to minimize plowing-related problems and help City crews do the most effective job possible. Please note these top 10 tips: 

1. Observe the City of Owatonna's winter parking regulations. Do not park on the restricted side of the street between November 15 and March 31 from 12:01 a.m. and noon. Vehicles violating this restriction will be ticketed and towed. When significant snowfall occurs, vehicles should be kept off the street whenever possible. 
2. Residents may find it less frustrating to wait until the plow trucks have completed their street before cleaning the end of their driveway. City plows are designed to discharge snow to the sides of the road and are not capable of skipping driveway areas. 
3. Snow from the bottom of the driveway should be shoveled to the right as you're facing the street. This reduces the amount of snow being placed back into the driveway during the next plowing. 
4. Residents who hire contractors to plow their driveways should remind the contractor about state and local laws prohibiting pushing or placing snow back into or across the street. Doing so not only creates hazards for drivers; but also makes it difficult for City crews to keep the streets clean.
5. Residents should clear snow from their mailbox area after each plowing. Snow remaining in front of mailboxes gets compacted by postal vehicles and makes subsequent plowing less effective. Mailboxes damaged by accumulated snow from plow blades are the City of Owatonna’s responsibility. 
6. If trash/recycling pickup day coincides with plowing activities, make sure trash and recycling bins are placed well behind the curb or in the driveway so the plow will not hit them.
7. Residents who have experienced sod damage in the past from plow blades may wish to mark their yard line with flexible stakes or lathe. This will help the plow operators avoid future damage. 
8. Do not allow children to build snow forts and tunnels in the snowbanks adjacent to the curb or to play near the curbs. It can be difficult for the plow operators to see children. 
9. Keep sleds and toys away from the street. 
10. Residents are encouraged to "adopt a fire hydrant" near their home and keep snow shoveled away from it. This will ensure that hydrants are accessible in case of an emergency.

Thank you for being patient during the snowplow season! Safe and efficient snow removal operations are made possible with communication and resident cooperation.