City Administrator Kris Busse Announces Retirement

The City of Owatonna announces City Administrator Kris Busse will retire August 8.

“This decision comes with a mix of emotions—gratitude for the time spent serving this wonderful community and sadness as I prepare to say goodbye to such a dedicated and talented team,” said Busse.

Additional information regarding the selection process for the next City Administrator will be developed with guidance from the City Council and shared publicly. All City of Owatonna open positions are posted online at governmentjobs.com.

The City of Owatonna is committed to providing a community where residents and businesses can thrive. Known for its strong community, education and business culture, Owatonna provides a high quality of life for its residents. Located in southeastern Minnesota, Owatonna is the county seat for Steele County and is home to several major employers. For additional information about the City of Owatonna, please visit owatonna.gov or follow the City of Owatonna on Facebook.

Owatonna Seeks State Bonding to Support New Public Safety Center

The City of Owatonna is taking a significant step forward in addressing its public safety facilities needs. Following the Owatonna City Council’s decision in December to advance the planning process for a new public safety center, the City is now seeking state bonding dollars to help fund the project.

A bill authored by Senator John Jasinski (District 19) and Representative Tom Sexton (District 19B) would provide $1.5 million to the City of Owatonna to support the planning and design of a new regional public safety center.

“This request reflects the critical need to replace aging and outdated police and fire facilities that no longer meet public safety standards,” said Mayor Matt Jessop. “We are incredibly thankful to Senator Jasinski and Representative Sexton for their support of our City’s public safety departments and our efforts to provide a modern, functional facility that ensures the safety and well-being of our community and first responders.”

The proposed public safety center would house the City’s police and fire departments, serve as Steele County’s emergency operation center, support area fire departments through mutual aid agreements, enhance multi-jurisdictional drug task force efforts and strengthen regional training opportunities.

City officials recently met with Senator Jasinski and Representative Sexton during the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Legislative Action Day. Among the topics discussed was the new public safety center.

“The most fundamental role of city government is to safeguard our community. Seeking state bonding dollars is part of the City’s commitment to a fiscally responsible, sustainable solution for our public safety facilities. We look forward to working with Senator Jasinski and Representative Sexton on this proposal as the session advances,” said Kris Busse, City Administrator.

Addressing the needs of the City’s public safety facilities is part of the City’s Long Range Asset Plan. The plan is a multi-year effort to make planned, responsible investments in the City’s current buildings and provide new facilities that meet the community’s long-term needs.

OPL 125th Anniversary

Join us for the official kickoff reception to OPL’s 125th Anniversary year on Saturday, February 22, from 2:00-4:00pm. Staff have planned special events throughout the year to commemorate this milestone. See news and a calendar of events at owatonna.gov/library.

Library History Tour

Local historian Nancy Vaillancourt will be conducting a tour of Owatonna Public Library at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, February 26, highlighting OPL's history. The tour will last about an hour. See the 125th Anniversary Page for more tour dates coming up.

Movies of the Decades

Beginning February 27, OPL will run a monthly Movies of the Decades series at 2:00 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month in the third floor Gainey Room. The February 27 movie was filmed in the 1920s. Check the Library News section of OPL’s homepage at owatonna.gov/library for the next title being shown as well as its rating and run time.

Storytime Tuesdays

Storytime Tuesdays continue weekly in February. Preschoolers with their parents/caregivers are invited to the Children’s Services area at the library for stories, songs and fun on Tuesdays at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.

Upcoming Parks & Recreation Programs

Registration for most spring and summer programs, classes and camps began February 4. Additional details for all programs and facilities can be found online at owatonna.gov or on the Parks & Recreation online registration page at owatonnat.gov/prcatalog. Register online at www.owatonna.gov, call 507.444.4321 or stop by the Parks & Recreation Office at 500 Dunnell Drive.

Adaptive Bowling League

Ramps, gutter guards, balls and shoes are provided.

Dates/Times: Mondays 4:00-6:00 PM
March (5 Weeks) $48.75
April (4 Weeks) $39
May (3 Weeks) $29
June (5 Weeks) $48.75
July (4 Weeks) $39
August (4 Weeks) $39
September (4 Weeks) $39
October (4 Weeks) $39
November (4 Weeks) $39
December (5 Weeks) $48.75
Ages: 8-25
Location: Spare Time Entertainment

New Paid-on-Call Firefighters

The fire department has added three new paid-on-call firefighters to their ranks. Justin Beman, Isaac Potter, and Kate Tepp started their firefighter training in January. Over the next six months, the new firefighters will attend classes and work with current firefighters to learn about being firefighters. At the end of their training period, they will be tested by the Minnesota Fire Service Certification Board to become certified to the Firefighter I and Firefighter II level. This is a requirement for all Owatonna firefighters.

Permit to Carry or Purchase Questions

Thinking about getting a permit to purchase or carry? If you live within the city limits of Owatonna, you can turn in your permit to purchase paperwork at the Police Department, located at 204 E. Pearl St. If you live outside of city limits or want a permit to carry, this will need to be done at the records reception area at the Steele County Detention Center, located at 2500 Alexander Dr.

Permit to Purchase questions? Click Here
Permit to Carry questions? Click Here

Current Job Openings with the City of Owatonna

The City of Owatonna currently has several positions available. Benefits, competitive wages and an opportunity to perform meaningful work that positively impacts the community are just a few reasons to work in municipal government. Apply for any of the following positions at governmentjobs.com or at owatonna.gov “Employment Opportunities” to also subscribe to receive alerts about future opportunities.

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.

February 20

8:00 a.m. – Airport Commission Meeting in the Meeting Room of the Charles S. Crandall Center.
4:30 p.m. – Library Board Meeting, Gainey Room at Library, 105 N Elm Avenue.

Saturday, February 22 – Kickoff to the Library’s Quasquicentennial

2:00 p.m. – Special Kickoff for the 125-year celebration of the library, 105 N Elm Avenue.

Monday, February 24

4:00 p.m. – HRA Meeting in the Meeting Room of the Charles S. Crandall Center.

Tuesday, February 25

4:00 p.m. – Public Utility Commission (OPU) Meeting, Morehouse Meeting Room, 208 S Walnut Avenue.

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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February 19, 2025