New City Administrator Sworn in August 19

Mayor Matt Jessop officially swears in Jenna Tuma as Owatonna’s City Administrator at the August 19 City Council meeting.

Watch City Meetings Online!

Owatonna’s City Council meetings are available to watch live or on demand. Visit owatonna.gov/Government/Mayor & City Council to see options and links. Click this link to view a live feed of Owatonna’s Public Access, Education & Government Channel where City Council meetings are aired live and rebroadcast. Or, to view any past City Council meeting on demand, click this link: owatonna.gov. Owatonna School Board meetings are also available to view through these options.

A 'Fair'ly Good Week for Owatonna!

Assistant City Engineer Shannon Heitmann greets visitors at the City's Steele County Fair booth.

Annual Fly-In/Drive-In Breakfast

August 25

The Owatonna Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) will hold its annual Fly-In/Drive-In Breakfast at the Owatonna Degner Regional Airport August 25 from 7 a.m. until noon. The event is open to the public and includes an all-you-can-eat French toast, sausage and fresh fruit breakfast. There will also be a silent auction. Tickets are $10 at the door. Kids ages five and under eat free. Discounted pre-sale tickets are available at Hy-Vee. All proceeds benefit the CAP. With good weather, the event often draws several aircraft from all over the area.

New Paid-on-Call Firefighters

The fire department has added two new paid-on-call firefighters to their ranks. Taylor Piotter and Luke Van Hooser being their firefighter training this month. Dalton Meier, who started in January, will be joining them in their classroom training. 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.

School Zone Traffic Safety

Extra Enforcement in School Zones

The Owatonna Police Department is asking drivers to stay alert, slow down and help keep children safe. As the new school year begins soon, there will be extra police patrols around schools.

To help protect children as they return to school this fall, please take note of the following reminders. Please allow more time to travel through school zones, pay attention and reduce speeds in school zones. When posted and when children are present, the speed limit is 20 miles per hour. Do not stop or obstruct the traffic lane to drop off or pick up students or passengers. Use established student drop-off zones. Yield to pedestrians and crossing guards in crosswalks. When school buses flash amber lights, they are preparing to stop. All drivers must stop at least 20 feet back and in all directions of a school bus flashing red lights with stop arm extended. It is illegal to pass a school bus with red flashing lights; penalties are enhanced if children are present.

The Owatonna Police Department will be actively looking for drivers who disregard these rules. We can all do our part to get students to school and home safely by staying alert and obeying speed limits.

Library Treasure Found & Showcased

A recently re-discovered art installation was resurrected in celebration of the 125^th anniversary of the library. A beautiful stained-glass tree now graces the landing between the two floors of the library. This beautiful art installation first greeted patrons at the entry to Children’s services in the early 1980s and was taken down during remodeling due to its size and weight. Recently, Librarian Darla Lager remembered the artwork had been placed in storage. With significant help and creativity from Library Director Mark Blando and the City’s Facilities staff, the tree now hangs in the window, showcased from both inside and out for all to enjoy!

cover of fall winter 2025 2026 activity guide

Sign up for Fall & Winter Activities

Registration is NOW OPEN for 2025 Fall and Winter Activities. The catalog is filled with activities for all ages including archery, geocaching, water aerobics, youth sports, adult trips and weekly activities, adaptive recreation activities, snowshoeing, tennis, pickleball, special events and so much more!

Register for programs online at owatonna.gov/prcatalog or call 507.444.4321 or stop by the Parks and Recreation office in person at West Hills Social Commons during office hours.

Indoor Water Aerobics

Get an aerobic workout promoting movement of joints, muscles and heart. The small pool environment and comfortable water temperature of approximately 90 degrees at the West Hills Tennis and Fitness Center is great for rehabilitation and arthritis. Numerous classes are offered; however, class sizes are limited. The cost for two classes per week is $11. For class options, visit Owatonna.gov.

Saving a Seat for YOU!

The public is invited to attend the City's public meetings. Unless otherwise specified, these meetings are held at City Hall, 540 West Hills Circle. Agendas, meeting minutes and City Council packets are available in the Agenda Center on the City’s website: https://owatonna.gov/agendacenter.

August 20: Economic Development Authority Meeting at 4 p.m.
August 21: Airport Commission Meeting at 8 a.m. at the Denger Regional Airport, 3400 W Frontage Road. Library Board Meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the Gainey Room at the Owatonna Public Library, 105 North Elm Avenue.
August 25: Housing & Redevelopment Authority Meeting at 4 p.m.
August 26: Public Utilities Commission Meeting at 4:00 p.m. in the Morehouse Meeting Room at Owatonna Public Utilities, 208 South Walnut Avenue. City Council and staff Preliminary Budget Workshop (1 of 3) presentations from the Park & Recreation Department, Police Department and Library at 4 p.m. in the Gainey Room at the Owatonna Public Library, 105 North Elm Avenue. Planning Commission Meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Helpful Links

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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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August 20, 2025