Candidate Forums

The Early Edition Rotary Club of Owatonna, the Owatonna People’s Press and the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce are collaborating to host candidate forums for the upcoming election. Six forums will be held at the Owatonna Country Club, 1991 Lemond Road from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Two of these are for City offices that will be included on this year’s ballot:

Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. with a cost of $16. There is no cost to attend for those who are not there for the lunch. Registration and payment is required to attend due to limited seating. Click on the links above for additional information or to register.

photo of groundbreaking event for Honda dealership

City officials join Marthaler Honda representatives for a groundbreaking event at the new construction site on 26^th Avenue North.

Honda Dealership Relocating to Owatonna

City officials attended a groundbreaking ceremony September 26 for Marthaler Honda. Grading work has begun at the four-plus acre site located at 26^th Street NW and State Avenue. The new 22,812 square foot retail, parts and service dealership is expected to be completed in the spring.

“It is exciting to see yet another new business relocating to Owatonna,” said Troy Klecker, Community Development Director. “This family-owned business, visible from Interstate 35, will reinforce Owatonna’s presence as a growing regional center.”

At their May 7 meeting, the City Council considered a request by the site’s previous property owner for the City of Owatonna to annex this parcel and approve a plat to support utility infrastructure improvements including fire hydrants and a connection to the City’s sewer system. Based on the Planning Commission’s recommendation, the City Council approved this request along with a development agreement. These actions paved the way for this business to relocate from Albert Lea. Subsequently, City staff issued a grading permit. Klecker added, “We want to welcome Marthaler Honda and its owner-operator Chris Knutson to Owatonna and thank them for investing in our community.”

Fire Prevention Week October 6-12

Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!

The Owatonna Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote this year’s Fire Protection Week campaign, “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!” The campaign works to educate everyone about the importance of having working smoke alarms. According to NFPA, smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half (54 percent). Meanwhile, roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Here are key smoke alarm safety tips and guidelines:

Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway) and on each level (including the basement) of the home.
Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
Test smoke alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week and smoke alarms, visit fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.

Annual Chili Feed and Open House October 6

Kicks off Fire Prevention Week

The annual Chili/Wild Rice Soup Feed will be October 6 from 4 until 7 p.m. in the Apparatus Bay at the Fire Station at 107 Main Street West. Everyone is welcome! The event benefits the Owatonna Firefighters Relief Association. Tickets are $10. Kids ages five and under are free. Tickets are available at the Fire Station and from all Owatonna firefighters. Equipment will be on display and firefighters will be available to answer questions as part of this event.

photo of officer with k9 at 2023 Coptober

Coptober for Kids!

Join Owatonna police officers at the Owatonna Public Library to learn about what it takes to be a police officer and how to keep children safe. This family event will be fun and educational with hands-on demonstrations, book readings, squad car tours, K9 visits, fingerprinting, handouts and so much more! The free event, hosted by the Owatonna Police Department, will be held October 17 from 9 a.m. until noon and is designed for fifth-grade students and younger. The Police Department is excited to make this a bigger event this year after receiving a donation by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation.

Merrill Hall Renovations Set for Completion Ahead of Schedule

Little Theatre of Owatonna & Wee Pals Leases Secured

Renovations at the 100-plus year-old Merrill Hall building are ahead of schedule for completion. The City Council, at its October 1 meeting, approved occupancy leases with two long-term tenants at the City-owned building located on the West Hills campus.

Last October, the City Council approved $5.3 million in building improvements including replacing the deteriorating roof, upgrading the mechanical, electrical, lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, adding a fire sprinkler system and asbestos abatement. “We are pleased the project will be completed two months ahead of schedule and within its budget so our valued tenants can continue using this historic building to provide benefits for the community,” said Jenna Tuma, Assistant City Administrator.

The Little Theatre of Owatonna and Wee Pals Child Care Center have each leased space in this City-owned building for several decades. Both operations temporarily relocated during the renovations and are expected to return to Merrill Hall later this month. Tuma added, “We worked closely with Merrill Hall tenants to minimize disruptions to them.” For additional information about Merrill Hall’s tenants, visit their websites at Little Theatre of Owatonna (duplie.com) and Wee Pals Child Care Center – Owatonna, MN.

The Merrill Hall improvements are part of the City of Owatonna’s Long-Range Asset Plan (LRAP) that identifies near- and long-term infrastructure improvements and needs for City-owned structures and buildings. Early on in developing the plan, the City Council expressed interest in maintaining ownership of existing buildings at the West Hills Campus and determined Merrill Hall renovations to be a priority after considering alternatives such as demolishing or selling the building.

Input from community members has helped develop the LRAP in guiding how investments and improvements in City buildings are planned. This long-term approach to planning and prioritizing facilities improvements allows residents, community leaders and City officials to guide decisions on how to plan, grow and invest in Owatonna’s future. Please visit Owatonna.gov for updates about the LRAP and an invitation to attend the Merrill Hall Ribbon Cutting Event next month.

East Side Corridor Project Advances

During the October 1 City Council Study Session, WSB, the consultant for the East Side Corridor Project, presented a project update regarding an Evaluation of Alternatives to Council Members.

The City of Owatonna’s Strategic Plan identifies the need for this corridor to address increased north-south traffic on the east side of town due to community growth. Currently, traffic cannot travel directly between the northeast and the southeast parts of Owatonna. Drivers must use routes that go through the downtown area to travel between these parts of town. This creates additional congestion downtown and increases travel times. It is critical for community growth and development to plan roadways that provide safe and convenient access across the area. In addition to this proposed corridor, future development is expected to dictate the need for another north-south route on the east side of Owatonna at 34^th Avenue.

No private property acquisitions in the North Country Subdivision are expected by the Steele County due to the 100-foot-wide corridor route having been defined and reserved more than 20 years ago. The new corridor will also include adding a paved trail on the west side of the road from 26^th to 18^th Streets to provide recreational value and support carbon-free transportation options directly to existing neighborhoods along the route as well as future development. Farmland outside City limits will need to be acquired.

As Steele County, the lead agency on the project, takes the next step in completing the Environmental Documents, a preliminary design will explore options for mitigating the impacts of the new corridor and to refine the specifics for the route. A final design for the project and right-of-way acquisitions will occur in 2025. Construction is scheduled for 2026 and 2027.

“We appreciate the various ways public input has been received regarding the project through our partnership with County staff as the seven identified alternatives have been evaluated for this important corridor.” said Sean Murphy, Public Works Director.

Learn more about the East Side Corridor by visiting the East Side Corridor project website.

Join us at 6:30 p.m. in the Gainey Room on October 3, for "Minnesota's Most Haunted Locations" with Chad Lewis. This program is a ghostly journey to some of the most haunted places in the state. From wandering ghosts in the north woods to a haunted B&B in Wabasha to graveyard apparitions located in your own backyard, no place in Minnesota is without its own hauntings. This program is free and open to the public.

Map showing limits of the 18th Street SE Trail Project

18^th Street SE Trail Project Contract Awarded

A pedestrian and bicycle trail running along the South side of 18th Street SW and the North side of 18th Street SE is planned for construction. This extension of the 18th Street Trail is a phased project supported by many businesses, organizations and Steele County. Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds have also been awarded for 2026 to complete the trail from Austin Road to Bixby Road (CSAH 48).

Bids were received August 29 for the 18^th Street SE Trail Project from five companies. Ulland Brothers, Inc. of Albert Lea was awarded the project with the low bid of $911,296.47 which was $78,330 less than the engineer’s estimate. The project will be paid for using a combination of local, state and federal funding. $579,684 in federal funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) has been awarded for this project and the remaining eligible costs will be paid for using State Aid funds. Any costs ineligible for State Aid Funds will be paid for using Capital Improvement Funds. The contractor submitted Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participation records to the MNDOT Office of Civil Rights (OCR). The submittals met OCR's criteria and approvals have been obtained. Due to Federal Process and State Aid review concurrence and lengthy contract timelines, the project will not be constructed until spring 2025.

Sidewalk Snow Removal Services

Public Works Department Requests for Proposals

The Public Works Department is seeking professional services from qualified, insured contractors to complete on-call maintenance activities for snow and ice removal on sidewalks in the City of Owatonna. The 2024-2025 Winter Season Sidewalk Snow Removal Request for Proposal is available on the City of Owatonna’s Procurement Portal. Responses must be submitted via the online portal before 4 pm on October 30.

Become a Water Safety Instructor

Are you looking for a fulfilling way to make a positive impact in your community? Consider becoming a Water Safety Instructor (WSI)! Water safety is a critical life skill for all ages and, as a certified instructor, you'll play a vital role in teaching people how to stay safe in and around water.

Adults are particularly well-suited to becoming WSIs. Your life experience, patience and leadership skills make you a natural fit for teaching children and adults. By taking a WSI course, you’ll gain the tools to teach swimming and water safety skills in a structured, effective way. Whether you’re helping beginners overcome their fear of the water or coaching seasoned swimmers to improve their technique, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re making a lasting impact.

WSI certification offers more than just the chance to teach—it opens doors to rewarding opportunities. As a WSI, you can work at community pools, swim schools, water parks and even private clubs. It's a great way to stay active, earn extra income and connect with others while doing something meaningful.

With drowning prevention being a top priority, especially for children, the demand for WSIs is high. By becoming a certified WSI, you’ll be equipping yourself with skills that will save lives, boost confidence, and promote healthy lifestyles. Join the movement to create safer communities by signing up for a course in October or March. Visit owatonna.gov for additional information.

We’ll Save You a Seat!

Weekly Meeting Schedule

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.

October 6: Chili and Wild Rice Soup Feed from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Owatonna Fire Hall with an Open House to kick off Fire Prevention Week, 107 West Main Street.

October 7: Joint Powers Board Meeting at 4 p.m. at the Steele County Administration Center, 630 Florence Avenue. Park Board Meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the Charles S. Crandall Center at City Hall, 540 West Hills Circle.

October 8: Human Rights Commission Meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room in the Charles S. Crandall Center at City Hall, 540 West Hills Circle. Planning Commission Meeting in the Chambers in the Charles S. Crandall Center at City Hall, 540 West Hills Circle.

Helpful Links

Licenses & Permits

Registration

Employment

Stay Informed

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.
Social Media: Stay connected with the City of Owatonna by following these social media sites.
Spotlight Videos: Videos produced by the City of Owatonna.

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October 2, 2024