Advocating for Owatonna in State Legislative Session

City elected officials and staff are representing Owatonna as the state’s 2024 legislative session continues through May 20. Their participation in the advocacy events below and meetings with Representative John Petersburg (District 19B) and Senator John Jasinski (District 19) are highlighted below. For additional information about this year’s session or the Minnesota State Legislature, visit leg.mn.gov.

City Day on the Hill

City Council member Nate Dotson (Ward 1) and Mayor Thomas Kuntz represented Owatonna March 7 at City Day on the Hill hosted by the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC). As LMC members, Owatonna’s city officials join others from around the state to help ensure state lawmakers understand the support needed by local governments. The event included opportunities to hear about important legislative issues impacting cities including housing, emergency medical services and infrastructure funding. Attendees heard from Governor Walz, Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman, House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy and Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson.

Legislative Action Day

City Council member Kevin Raney (Ward 4) joined Mayor Thomas A. Kuntz and City Administrator Kris Busse in attending the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Legislative Action Day March 20. This annual event provides an opportunity for more than 100 city leaders from across Greater Minnesota to meet with legislators. Several legislators addressed the full group. Topics during these discussions centered around Owatonna’s need for Local Government Aid (LGA). Through the LGA program, the State of Minnesota helps address property tax inequities across the state so that all Minnesota cities can provide quality public services while restraining property taxes.

2024 State of the City Address

Recaps 2023 highlights and provides a look ahead at 2024 plans

View the City of Owatonna’s 2024 State of the City Address at owatonna.gov. Highlights of the address include a look at 2023 accomplishments and a look ahead at 2024 plans demonstrating the City’s Strategic Plan’s four key focus areas: Economic Vitality, Infrastructure, Quality of Life and Efficient Effective Government. To request the Mayor and City Administrator give the presentation in person at a gathering, please send an email to info@owatonna.gov.

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.

March 28: Retirement Celebration Open House for Robin Spande, Library Administrative Technician from 1 until 3 p.m. in the Reading Room at the Library, 105 North Elm Avenue.

April 1: Park Board Meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the Charles S. Crandall Center. 

April 2: City Council Study Session at 5:30 p.m. in the Charles S. Crandall Center where Sean Williams, Owatonna Area Business Development Center Director and Brad Meier, Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO will present the annual Owatonna Partners for Economic Development (OPED) Report. If time permits, there will be general updates on various boards and commissions. At 7 p.m., the City Council Meeting will begin. The Study Session and meeting will be held in the Chambers at the Charles S. Crandall Center. There will be a public hearing to consider the proposed assessments for the 2023 Street and Utility Project.

Patrol Bikes Back in Action

March 19 marked the first day of spring in 2024. The Police Department is excited to announce we have deployed the e-bikes early this year due to the unseasonably warm weather.

Last year, the department purchased two electric-assist e-bikes and trained 12 patrol officers, a community service officer and three reserve officers to use them. The bikes are equipped with emergency lights and sirens. They are utilized to patrol areas where traditional squad cars can be less effective including on pedestrian and bike trails, in parks and in the downtown business district.

Bike patrols assist with traffic enforcement with a focus on crosswalk violations and hands-free cell phone distracted driving as well as education and enforcement of City ordinances such as 90.01 requiring “any domesticated dog or cat in a public park shall only be deemed to be under control when such animal is attached to a leash held by the owner or the owner’s agent.”

Wastewater Treatment Facility Reminder: Fats, Oil & Grease

Fats, Oil, and Grease (FOG) can cause a multitude of problems if they enter the sanitary sewer system through kitchen drains in both residential dwellings and food service establishments.

FOG can cause many problems including but not limited to:

• Slow drains, system blockages & backups
• Pollution from potential sewer overflows
• Decreased useful life of the sanitary system
• Environmental strain from increased water use
• Increased sewer maintenance costs

Keeping food waste out of the sanitary sewer system is the most effective way to manage FOG. This can easily be accomplished by avoiding disposing of food waste through household garbage disposals or any other drain systems. Most FOG buildup is caused by washing greasy dishes. To avoid this, wipe dishes out with a paper towel before washing. Oour used cooking oil and grease into a container and throw it in the trash after it has cooled. Food service establishments can minimize FOG in the sanitary system by installing and maintaining grease traps to trap grease while allowing water to flow freely through the system.

Street Sweeping Benefits

Roadways, parking lots and other paved areas accumulate debris such as trash, sediment, vegetation, organic matter and vehicle waste. The debris can contain harmful pollutants including metals, organics, nutrients, chemicals, oils and particulate matter. These pollutants are washed down the storm drains and into nearby waterbodies. Street sweeping is the most cost-effective way to help enhance environmental quality while also improving aesthetics and providing a safe roadways.