Public Service Recognition Week May 5-11

Since 1985, the first week in May has been set aside to honor the people who serve as federal, state, county, local and tribal government employees. Please consider thanking a City Council Member, the Mayor or any City employee for their service to Owatonna. For additional information, visit the Partnership for Public Service.

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.

April 24: Employee Recognition Banquet at 5 p.m. at the Owatonna Eagles Club, 141 East Rose Street.
April 26: 2024 Strategic Planning – Session 2 from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. in the Meeting Room in the Charles S. Crandall Center at City Hall, 540 West Hills Circle. City Council Members, Mayor and City Administrator will meet to finalize strategic goals and priorities. Arbor Day Event at 12:15 p.m., a tree planting will occur at Brooktree Golf Course in honor of City employees who retired in 2023. The public is invited to attend this Arbor Day event to honor the City’s 2023 Retirees.
April 30: Annual Contractor Meeting at 8 am in Chambers, Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle.

Help Imagine Owatonna in 2050!

Comprehensive Plan Open House May 16

Continued participation from community members in Owatonna’s Comprehensive Plan process – Imagine Owatonna 2050 - is appreciated! Based on visioning and engagement over the last year, City staff has worked with Stantec to develop a draft vision and goals for the future regarding topics such as land use and development, parks and trails, transportation, housing, economic development and the environment.

Next will be an Open House to gather community input on the draft Imagine Owatonna 2050 plan. Everyone in Owatonna is invited to stop by on May 16 between 4 and 7 p.m for this Open House which will include two opportunities to view a presentation at 4:30 and 6 p.m. It will be held at Owatonna Public Utilities, 208 South Walnut Avenue, in the Morehouse Room

For background on Imagine Owatonna 2050, maps and other information, please visit www.owatonna.gov/imagine2050. This website will be updated before the Open House with similar content to provide an alternative to in-person attendance.

Photo of 2024 Police Explorer participants and officers

Police Explorer Results

On April 18-21, the Owatonna Police Explorers group traveled to Rochester to compete in the 49^th Annual State Explorers Conference. The group competed in multiple different law enforcement scenario events and against approximately 300 other explorers. There was tough competition, but our teams did a wonderful job navigating through these challenging scenarios. Overall, the Owatonna Police Department is excited and so proud to have our Explorers compete in these events. In today’s climate within law enforcement, we appreciate the effort and amount of time these young adults have put into our program to not only better themselves, but better our community. Congratulations to the Owatonna Police Explorers!

DWI event: Emmy Flemming—Third Place Overall
5K run: Abigial Morriss—Third Place
Team 1: Emmy Flemming, Aiden Moriarity, Becca Hansen, Landon Parkos
Team 2: Wyatt Bonilla, Abigail Morriss, Noah Cannon, Dakota DuChene
Explorers not able to attend: Abdi Abdulahi, Tyler Sheehan, Kaden Keller, Carter Quinlan

It’s Severe Weather Season

Understanding Outdoor Warning Sirens

While many people believe outdoor warning sirens are the primary method of alerting the public of severe weather threats, that is not the case. Outdoor warning sirens are intended for people who are outdoors and may not have the ability to monitor the weather using other notification methods. The sirens are not intended to be heard indoors.

When there is impending severe weather, the warning sirens will sound for a minimum of four minutes with a steady pitch. In Steele County, the Rice Steele 911 Center activates the emergency warning sirens. Residents should always take shelter when hearing an emergency warning siren and should have a means of receiving updated information while sheltering. The sirens do NOT sound an all-clear signal.

To ensure siren function during critical situations, they are tested the first Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. During testing, the sirens will sound for one minute and then shut off. Additional information is available online through Steele County and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

National Day of Prayer May 2

Everyone is invited to attend the National Day of Prayer at 5:30 p.m. May 2 in front of City Hall. The theme for this year’s event is “Lift Up the Word-Light Up the World”. The gathering will include songs of praise, Mayor Kuntz reading a proclamation and members of the local clergy and religious leaders offering prayers for the nation, state and neighborhoods. In case of rain, the event will be held in the Charles S. Crandall Center.

Keeping the Community 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.

West Hills Social Commons Seniors Programs

Physical activity is essential for maintaining good health. It can help you manage your weight, reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, improve your mood and boost your energy levels. Staying active can be a lot of fun, regardless of your age. The Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department offers a variety of physical activities that also provide an opportunity to socialize and connect with others as you make it a part of your daily routine

Strength Training

Join our free strength training class to increase flexibility, mobility and balance. This group-led program will give you a full-body workout from either a standing or sitting position. Weights and resistance bands are available for use if you are looking for an additional challenge. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 9 until 10 a.m.

Table Tennis

Also known as ping-pong, table tennis is a racket sport that came from tennis. Table tennis can be played individually or in teams of two. Play is fast, requiring quick reactions and constant attention. Wednesdays 12:30 until 2 p.m.

Yoga

This gentle yoga program is specifically designed for those who want to improve their flexibility, strength and balance. The program is safe and effective for people of all fitness levels. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m.

Coffee Conversations

Join City staff and other Owatonna senior citizens to hear about all the exciting things we are working on over a cup of coffee. This event is free to anyone who wants to attend. Call 507.444.4321 to register so we are sure to have adequate supplies. The upcoming dates are May 22 from 11:30-12:30 p.m. and July 12 from 11:30-12:30 p.m.

Stormwater Reminders

Get Your Mind In The Gutter!

With spring and summer on the horizon, it’s time to enjoy the nice weather swimming at Lake Kohlmeier, hiking at Kaplan’s Woods fishing on the Straight River or taking the dog for a walk. As we enjoy the outdoors, please remember that whatever you see in the gutters will end up in the Straight River. Grass clipping, pet waste and trash lying on the street will be washed into the storm sewers during rain events. Debris in the street can also plug catch basins and prevent the stormwater from flowing as designed into the structures. Please help keep Owatonna’s gutters clean! When mowing, blow grass clippings away from the gutter and back into the yard. If clippings do get into the gutter, take a moment to sweep them up. During walks around town, bring a bag to pick up trash that might collect in the catch basins. If you have a catch basin in front of your property, make sure debris does not collect on top of it and cause localized flooding. Remember, the waterfront is as close as your nearest street catch basin!

Community Service Opportunity – Spring Stormwater Pond Clean-up

Winter months leave behind large amounts of trash and unwanted debris in waterways and stormwater ponds. This contributes to unwanted water pollution and clogging the stormwater system. The City is seeking volunteers to help remove garbage from 29 publicly-owned ponds. This is a perfect way to get out of the house for fresh air and exercise, enjoy the beautiful spring weather and get involved in the community all while having a positive impact on your environment. The City can provide garbage bags and pond locations if necessary.

Safety Considerations:

Do not go in or near the water edge or inlet/outlet structures.
Always wear gloves.
In some locations, it may be advisable to wear boots.
Do not grab anything that may be sharp or hazardous.
A trash picker or rake may be necessary to reach some objects.

3 Ss of Stormwater

We can all help our watershed stay clean and healthy by remembering these three Ss: Soak it up, Spread it out and Slow it down! To learn more about what best stormwater management practices you can implement, visit owatonna.gov. Clean H2Owatonna is the City of Owatonna’s Stormwater Management Program to keep our streams, rivers and waterways clean.

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