We’ll Save You a Seat!

Weekly Meeting Schedule

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

September 4: Joint Powers Board Meeting at 4 p.m. at the Steele County Administration Building, 630 Florence Avenue.

September 5: Owatonna Human Rights Commission Human Library Bingo in celebration of Welcome Week will be held as part of the Downtown Thursday event in Central Park beginning at 5 p.m. Human ‘books’ can be checked out in person or scan the QR code on posters with each book’s information. Earn an X on a BINGO card for each book to win a cash prize!

September 7: Owatonna Human Rights Commission Meeting on the Field includes a soccer game at Daiken Soccer Complex, 1100 East Rice Lake Road at 6:30 p.m. in celebration of Welcome Week. This is a free activity for all community members. El Ray Taco will be on-site beginning at 5 p.m.

September 10: South Central Drug Investigation Unit (SCDIU) Meeting at 1 p.m. in the Meeting Room at the Waseca Public Safety Center, 303 South State Street, Waseca. City Council Workshop at 4 p.m. for the third and final 2025 Department Budget Presentations in Council Chambers at the Charles S. Crandall Center at City Hall, 540 West Hills Circle. The Human Rights Commission will meet in that space at 5:30 p.m. The Planning Commission planned for this day is rescheduled to September 24.

City of Owatonna Conducting a Community Center Facilities Planning Process

Residents are encouraged to visit OurCommunityOurCenter.org to learn more about the initiative and stay informed and engaged

The City of Owatonna is conducting a facilities planning process to explore options for building a new community center.

“For years, residents have expressed the need for a community center in Owatonna,” said Jenna Tuma, Assistant City Administrator. “The facilities planning process will carefully evaluate every aspect of building and maintaining a new community center that would serve our residents and community for years to come.”

Engagement and feedback from community members are essential to the facilities planning process. As one of the first steps in this initiative, the City has formed a Community Center Task Force. The Task Force includes community members with different backgrounds, experiences and interests, City Council members and representatives from the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, Owatonna School District and Steele County. City staff and representatives from ICS, a firm specializing in facilities planning, will support the Task Force's work.

“The Community Center Task Force is an essential first step in our planning process. With their diverse views and local experience, this group will help plan the activities, amenities and services based on community feedback on what is most desired in a community center,” Tuma said. The Task Force will begin by evaluating feedback from a June 2024 survey in which 740 community members shared almost 700 ideas with over 17,000 comments and ratings for the amenities and activities they would like to see in a community center. The survey results indicate the community’s highest priorities are:

Year-round recreation opportunities through indoor playgrounds, gyms, sports courts and event spaces.
Aquatic facilities that provide year-round opportunities for health and wellness, swimming lessons and general enjoyment.
Services and facilities that appeal to youth, children and families including opportunities for childcare options and inclusive play areas.
Fitness and wellness spaces including a fitness center, walking track and classes offered at various times to accommodate different schedules.
Multi-purpose spaces for meetings, cultural events and community activities and gatherings.

Over the next 12-18 months, the Task Force will help develop a plan for a community center. Community members will also have opportunities to share their input throughout the planning process. With the Task Force’s guidance and feedback from the community, the City aims to create a plan that reflects community members’ needs, promotes the health of people of all ages and provides a place for learning, socializing and connecting.

The City has created a dedicated website, OurCommunityOurCenter.org, to serve as an informational resource for this initiative. It provides an overview of the steps the City is taking toward exploring a new community center, answers to frequently asked questions and information on the City’s broader facilities management efforts and projects. The website will be regularly updated with information on the facilities planning process and how residents can engage.

Community members are encouraged to visit OurCommunityOurCenter.org to learn more about the facilities planning process for a new community center. Questions and feedback can be submitted through a Connect Form on the website, or by emailing communitycenter@owatonna.gov.

screen shot of City Spotlight video on Merrill Hall

The City of Owatonna’s Long Range Asset Plan includes Merrill Hall renovations. Watch the latest City Spotlight Video to learn more!

Comprehensive Plan Draft

Public input encouraged through September 23

Many voices, community champions and stakeholders have contributed their thoughts on the future vision for the City of Owatonna. Anyone interested in Owatonna’s future is invited to review the draft plan and provide comments at Imagine Owatonna: 2050 Comprehensive Plan | Owatonna, MN or email comments to Greg.Kruschke@owatonna.gov.

Comments on the draft plan will be collected until 4:30 p.m. September 23.

The Comprehensive Plan is a guide for City decision-makers concerning land use, economic development, parks and trails, the transportation system, housing, sustainability and resilience, and other issues. It articulates a vision, values, goals and implementation steps for City action.

There are additional ways to help shape this important plan. Attend the public open house September 24 from 3:30 until 5:15 p.m. There will be a formal presentation at 4 p.m. Attend the formal public hearing at the Planning Commission at 5:30 pm. These events will be held in the Owatonna City Hall Council Chambers at 540 West Hills Circle.

2024 Welcome Week

The Owatonna Human Rights Commission (OHRC) is planning several activities to celebrate 2024 Welcome Week activities. Welcome Week events will focus on bringing together community members for fellowship and exchange.

Human Library at Downtown Thursday September 5 at 5 p.m.

OHRC commissioners will host a Human Library at the City’s booth in Central Park. The goal of the Human Library is to foster awareness that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices. During this event, ‘readers’ can check out a ‘human book’ for a one-on-one, 15-minute conversation with someone you may not have the opportunity to meet otherwise. Or you can access videos of ‘books” posted throughout Central Park. The OHRC 2024 Human Book Library will include 20-plus community members with varying backgrounds including Somali Americans; African Americans; senior citizens; business owners; religious leaders; Hispanic Americans; LGBTQ+ individuals; educators; veterans; handicapped individuals; law enforcement officers; non-profit organization leaders; recovered addicts and healthcare workers. Participants will track their 'books' on BINGO cards to win prizes. The Human Library was developed in Copenhagen in the spring of 2000 as part of an anti-violence movement and is now done internationally as part of a worldwide movement for social change.

Meeting on the Field September 9 at 5:30 p.m.

This soccer game will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Daiken Soccer Complex between the two teams registered. El Ray Taco will be on site with a full menu available for purchase. The game is free to community members to attend, mingle and cheer on the teams.

Vine Street Parking Lot Progressing

Bids for the Vine Street Parking Lot were considered by City Council during their September 3 meeting. Wencl Construction, Inc. of Owatonna was awarded the project with the low bid of $1,071,477.

The construction of a parking lot on Vine Street, at the site of the former Monson Eye Care Clinic and adjacent city-owned parking lots, will provide essential parking spaces for those visiting Owatonna’s downtown. The new lot design includes short- and long-term parking areas, green spaces, six accessible stalls, a crosswalk across Oak Avenue with a flashing beacon and 15 stalls along Vine Street. Additional features include updated street and parking lot lighting, a connection to the Muckle Trail, infrastructure to allow for future electric vehicle charging stations and a walkway connection to Broadway Street West.

The project is expected to begin later this month and will take approximately eight weeks to complete, depending on the weather. The project will be completed in one phase which will not allow for continuous parking at the current lot. However, it increases the likelihood that the project will be finished during this year’s construction season. Updates relating to timelines, project progression and potential traffic disruptions will posted on owatonna.gov and the Owatonna Public Works Facebook page.

The Fire Department will host an Open House in conjunction with firefighter hiring. Anyone interested in becoming a firefighter is invited to come to the fire station September 16 at 6 p.m. Meet current firefighters, learn about the hiring process and ask questions regarding the fire department and becoming a firefighter.

Fun for all at the Owatonna Public Library!

Watch free movies at 2 p.m. the fourth Thursday of every month (except November) in the Gainey Room. Visit the website at owatonna.gov/library for details on the next showing.

Storytime Resumes September 12

Fall Storytimes for preschoolers resume September 12 and are offered Tuesday mornings at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. in Children’s Services.

School Bus Safety Reminders

Minnesota school buses make about 10,000 trips each day during the school year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses are the safest mode of transportation for children. Everyone needs to work together to ensure that school children make it home safely. Pedestrian and drivers must remove distractions and be aware of surroundings at all times to make the community safer.

Stop for school buses - it's the law!

State law requires all vehicles to stop for school buses when the bus driver activates the flashing lights and has the crossing arm fully extended.
Drivers who violate the law face a $500 fine.
Drivers can face criminal charges for passing a school bus on the right, passing when a child is outside the bus or injuring or killing a child.

Motorists

Motorists must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus displaying red flashing lights or a stop arm when approaching from the rear and from the opposite direction on undivided roads.
Motorists should slow down, pay attention and anticipate school children and buses especially in neighborhoods and school zones.

Students

When getting off a bus, look to make sure no cars are passing on the shoulder.
Wait for the bus driver to signal that it’s safe to cross.
When crossing the street to get on the bus or to go home, make eye contact with motorists before proceeding.

16th Annual Watershed Wide Clean-up

September 14, 2024

The 16th Annual Watershed Wide Clean-up will take place in Owatonna September 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at Morehouse Park. The event is hosted by the Clean River Partners who also helps find sponsors. Volunteers can sign up by filling out the Clean River Partners Volunteer Registration Form.

For more than a decade, volunteers have combed the banks of streams and waterways in and around Owatonna to clean up trash and debris from the Straight River. Every year, more garbage is removed by hard-working individuals and businesses who are dedicated to making a difference. This is the largest one-day clean-up event in Minnesota with 200-plus volunteers working in nine locations across the Cannon River Watershed.

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Events: Access calendars to view upcoming events.
City News Releases: View news releases published by the City of Owatonna.
Newsletters: The City of Owatonna publishes a weekly newsletter called Owatonna Update. Current and past newsletters are available here.
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Spotlight Videos: Videos produced by the City of Owatonna.

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September 4, 2024