photo of candidates at October 21 2024 forum

Ward 4 and At-Large City Council candidates at the October 21 Candidate Forum

2024 General Election

Tuesday, November 5

Who can I vote for?

In addition to state and national races, seats for four of Owatonna’s elected officials will be on this year’s General Election ballot:

Mayor
Council Member At-Large
Council Member Ward 2
Council Member Ward 4

Two forums were held recently for City offices that will be included on this year’s ballot. Watch the candidate forums on owatonnalive.com:

Where & when do I vote?

Polls will be open November 5 from 7 am until 8 pm. Owatonna’s ten polling sites were established by resolution last December and used during both previous elections this year:

First Ward/First Precinct - Trinity Lutheran Church, 609 Lincoln Avenue
First Ward/Second Precinct - Associated Church, 800 Havana Road
Second Ward/First Precinct - Owatonna Public Library, 105 North Elm Avenue
Second Ward/Second Precinct – Bethel Church, 1611 Hemlock Avenue
*Third Ward/First Precinct – Chambers, Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle
Third Ward/Second Precinct - Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 750 Jeffrey Street
Fourth Ward/First Precinct - Sacred Heart Parish Center, 810 South Cedar Avenue
*Fourth Ward/Second Precinct – Christ Community Covenant Church, 540 SE 18th Street
Fifth Ward/First Precinct - Grace Baptist Church, 265 26th Street NE
Fifth Ward/Second Precinct - Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1909 St. Paul Road

*New site for 2024 elections. The Third Ward/First Precinct was previously located in the Owatonna Arts Center and changed to the Chambers to improve voter accessibility with one-level entry and parking. The Fourth Ward/Second Precinct was previously located at the Steele County History Center and changed due to scheduling conflicts with the Steele County Fair in August during the Primary Election. Postcards were sent in February to all households with registered voter(s) in these two precincts to advise of the change in their voting precinct locations.

House Fire

Fire Chief Encourages Checking Smoke Alarms

On October 19, the Owatonna Fire Department responded to a fire in a basement. Although the resident was able to safely evacuate, they were not alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm.

“This is a great reminder to make sure the smoke alarms in your home are working,” said Ed Hoffman, Owatonna Fire Chief. “We encourage all Owatonna residents to test your alarms monthly, change batteries twice a year and replace smoke alarms every 10 years.”

The residence sustained extensive damage and three people were displaced as a result of the fire. The cause has been ruled undetermined by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office investigator.

Coptober Success

Owatonna’s third annual Coptober was held last week over the MEA break. More than 170 children attended this event, making it the largest one yet. Wee Pals won the naming contest of the Halloween Officer now known as Officer Click Clack. A big thanks to the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation for donating books for attendees and $1,000 to support the event. The event was hosted by the Owatonna Police Department and the Owatonna Public Library.

Enjoy a free movie at the library in the Gainey Room at 2 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month. Visit owatonna.gov/library for the showing schedule.

We’ll Save You a Seat!

Weekly Meeting Schedule

Agendas, meeting minutes and packets for upcoming meetings are available at: https://owatonna.gov/agendacenter.

October 23: Economic Development Authority Meeting at 4 p.m. in the Second Floor Conference Room at City Hall, 540 West Circle Drive.

October 28: Housing & Redevelopment Authority Meeting at 4 p.m. in the Meeting Room at the Charles S. Crandall Center at City Hall, 540 West Hills Circle.

Compost Site

Check to make sure your waste will be accepted

The Compost Site located at 400 West 32nd Avenue is open for yard waste disposal. When taking items to the site, please remember which materials are accepted. This includes properly bagged or bulk yard waste including leaves, grass clippings and twigs.

To improve efficiency at the site, please separate materials as much as practicable. Brush, branches and larger woody debris should be separated from leaves, grass clippings and small sticks, etc. Please remember to remove plastic plant trays and pots from yard waste.

The site will not accept garbage, building materials or household items. Visit Steele County Environmental Services for information on the disposal of these items. Bags and bulk loads will be subject to inspection to ensure unacceptable items are not brought onto the site. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

The site is owned by the City of Owatonna and operated through By the Yard Landscape Supply. The compost site operates Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call By the Yard at 507.475.4385 orFollow them on Facebook for important updates relating to the Compost Site such as rain delays, holiday schedules, promotions, etc.

Boulevard Tree Orders

Boulevard trees that were removed due to damage or disease may be replaced by request from the property owner for a fee of $100 for large variety trees or $80 for small variety trees. City staff orders, plants and provides long-term maintenance for boulevard trees. Visit OpenGov – Boulevard Tree Order Form to submit a request for a replacement boulevard tree. All forms will be reviewed by City staff to ensure the appropriate size and variety is selected for the requested property address. Trees ordered this fall and winter will be planted next spring.

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 23, 2024