photo of City Hall with green lights for Veterans Day

Honoring Owatonna's Veterans

City Hall and all City buildings will be closed November 11 for the Veterans Day Holiday. Watch for the green lights at City buildings in honor of local veterans.

2024 City Election Results

The unofficial 2024 General Election results for City offices are as follows:

Mayor - Matt Jessop
City Council Member Ward Two - Don McCann
Ward Four - Kevin Raney
City Council Member At-Large - Doug Voss

Results will be final with the Canvass of the 2024 City Election at 9 a.m. in Chambers, Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle. These elected officials will be sworn in during the January Organizational Meeting of the City Council.

Merrill Hall Renovations Completed

Ribbon-Cutting Event November 19

Renovations at the historic Merrill Hall on the West Hills campus have been completed. Community members are invited to attend a ribbon-cutting event to commemorate the completion of the project November 19 at 4:30 p.m. at 560 Dunnell Drive. Doors will be open at 4 p.m.

Last year, a decision was made to renovate Merrill Hall to allow it to continue serving the community’s needs. The $5.3 million project included replacing the deteriorating roof, adding a fire sprinkler system and upgrading the mechanical, electrical, lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Original architectural elements were preserved in the renovation project including staircase millwork and a mural done in 1938 by Miriam Ibling as part of the Federal Artists Project which will be showcased in a reception area for Little Theatre of Owatonna (LTO) events. The building’s original terrazzo and hardwood floors were restored. Several rooms that had been separated into smaller spaces were restored to their original footprints. The Steele County Historical Society and West Hills Commission are working with City staff and the State Historical Preservation Office to commemorate the historical significance of the building and its uses with display panels.

Following a 2022 facilities analysis which identified urgent deferred maintenance needed at Merrill Hall, the City Council expressed interest in maintaining ownership of this and other existing buildings at the West Hills Campus and identified the Merrill Hall renovations as a priority. Alternatives such as demolishing or selling the building were also discussed. “The City Council is committed to being good stewards of taxpayers’ investment in municipally owned historic buildings to allow these spaces to serve the community effectively,” said City Council President Greg Schultz. Merrill Hall was built in 1933 as part of the State Public School campus and served in that capacity until 1970. Wee Pals Child Care Center has leased space in this City-owned building since the 1980s and LTO has been a lessee there since the 1960s.

This investment in Merrill Hall aligns with the City’s Long Range Asset Plan which guides decisions on improving current facilities and planning, growing and investing in Owatonna’s future facilities while delivering the highest value for taxpayers. Please visit Owatonna.gov/imagineowatonna for additional information.

artist rendering of Hillcrest Apartments

City Approves New Multifamily Housing

The City Council approved a new multi-family housing project on the east side of town. The new apartments will help provide more housing options in Owatonna and will be built on the site of the vacant Modern Aire Apartments at 811 East School Street. The current apartment building, formerly operated as a motel, was converted into 12 efficiency apartments in the 1970s. Hillcrest Apartments will have 73 units with first-floor parking and common interior amenities. There will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom units with 52 of them market rate and 20 affordable.

The Planning Commission held a public hearing to plat the property and approve a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the new four-story building. After receiving many comments from the neighbors, the Planning Commission ultimately recommended approval of the permit. The City Council approved the final plat and CUP for the project at its October 15 meeting. The City Council also approved the use of Tax Increment Financing for the project. A Minnesota Department of Economic Development Workforce Housing grant the City previously applied for and received will also be used to help finance the project. Demolition of the existing Modern Aire Apartments is planned to be completed by the end of the year and construction of the new apartment building is set to begin in the spring.

Aerial map of new Hillcrest Apartments site.

Mayor Kuntz to Declare November 11–15 DECA Week

During the November 6 City Council Meeting,Mayor Thomas Kuntz will proclaim next week as Owatonna Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) Week. DECA is an organization for high school students around the globe that aims to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. In competition, they display communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

City of Owatonna Lease Agreement with BBBS

The City of Owatonna has had a long-term lease agreement with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Southern Minnesota. BBBS has occupied leased space in the municipally-owned Vevle Hall at 545 Dunnell Drive for roughly 25 years. “The City of Owatonna recognizes the valuable services this agency provides to the community,” said Jenna Tuma, Assistant City Administrator.

SEMCAC, the other lessee that has shared the building with BBBS, relocated earlier this year. BBBS informed City staff it wanted to expand beyond its current footprint defined in its lease for space at Vevle Hall by also occupying the space formerly used by SEMCAC. Tuma continued, “Due to the City’s existing and anticipated space needs, we informed BBBS that we are unable to accommodate their request to expand their space at Vevle Hall; however, we have discussed with BBBS representatives their option to continue leasing the space they currently occupy.”

“Current workspaces and meeting areas are inadequate for existing City employees and the facilities being used will not meet future needs for our growing municipality,” said Tuma. City leadership made the decision to utilize the existing, available space at Vevle Hall to meet operational needs rather than building a new facility, renting space elsewhere or incurring the significant cost of remodeling the third floor at City Hall.

The City’s current lease with BBBS, set to expire December 31, includes an option to renew for an additional five years for the existing space they occupy. City staff offered BBBS the option of a month-to-month lease to continue leasing its current space rather than making a five-year commitment to allow BBBS time to consider a different location that accommodates its expansion needs. City staff will continue working with BBBS leadership throughout this transition to support this valued non-profit organization in serving Owatonna’s youth.

Stormwater Utility Fee Increase

First Ordinance Reading November 6

The November 6 City Council agenda includes the first reading of an amendment to Stormwater Ordinance 52 to adjust stormwater utility rates. If the ordinance is approved, there will be a second reading on November 19 and the updated rates will go into effect January 1, 2025.

In 2024, the average total monthly residential utility bill for water, wastewater and stormwater utilities was $74.72. Of that, $4.66 represented the stormwater utility fee. The proposed 2025 Monthly Fee is $5.14 per equivalent residential unit.

The last rate study and schedule update was in 2015. Owatonna’s stormwater rates have not been adjusted for inflation since 2023 and no changes were made from 2019 through 2022. For additional information about this increase and Owatonna’s Stormwater Utility Fee, visit owatonna.gov. Questions regarding stormwater management should be directed to the Public Works Department at 507.444.4350.

Leaf Raking Reminder

Please do NOT rake or blow leaves into the street

The City of Owatonna would like to remind residents that no person shall intentionally dispose of leaves, dirt, or other landscape debris into a street, road, alley, catch basin, culvert, curb, gutter, inlet, ditch, natural watercourse, flood control channel, canal, storm drain, and any other fabricated or natural conveyance. Doing so not only violates City Ordinance 52.28, which is punishable by fine, but contributes to excessive costs related to increased phosphorous in our waterways and added wear on equipment.

Are you wondering what to do with all the leaves? Leaves can be bagged and taken to the Compost Site located at 400 32nd Ave W, mulched with your lawnmower and left to break down to provide valuable nutritional benefits to your grass, or left as is to break down naturally.

Street Maintenance crews are continuously running the street sweeper to clear leaves that have fallen into the roadway and settled in the gutter.

Winter Parking Restrictions

Begin November 15

Police, Parks & Recreation and Public Works Departments work together to provide clear surfaces for pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Help from residents and business owners is needed to ensure this process is efficient and effective. Be sure to remind visitors, customers and neighbors that winter parking restrictions are in effect from midnight to noon. Keep in mind December and January end and begin with odd dates – the 31^st and the 1^st.

City staff use various methods to inform the community about winter parking restrictions to help avoid having to tow vehicles. The easiest way to know where to park is by using the Winter Parking Map web app. These restrictions are enforced through March 31 regardless of the weather. It is the City’s objective to educate community members and seek voluntary compliance, followed by consistent enforcement for a significantly more effective and efficient street maintenance operation.

We’ll Save You a Seat!

Weekly Meeting Schedule

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

November 6: City Council Study Session at 5 p.m. in Chamber at the Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle. Steve Grubish, Fireworks Committee Chair for Early Edition Rotary - Owatonna will present information regarding fireworks funding. Then, Chis Ziemer from ICS will provide information regarding a new Public Safety Center including potential locations and plans. The City Council Meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and will include a public hearing for comments on the proposed assessments for unpaid costs of snow removal from last winter.

November 12: Human Rights Commission Meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the Conference Room in the Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle. Planning Commission Meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the Chambers at the Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle.

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November 6, 2024