Hearts on Duty

Agencies Collaborate to Equip Library with Lifesaving Equipment

The Owatonna Police Department (OPD) facilitated the donation of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) to the Owatonna Public Library (OPL) December 3.

The donation was part of the Hearts on Duty program run by AED manufacturer, Stryker. The program is funded through the University of Minnesota’s Center for Resuscitation Medicine thanks to an $18.8 million grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust. Stryker created Hearts on Duty to allow law enforcement agencies who use a Stryker AED in a cardiac arrest save to donate an AED to a non-profit organization in their community. The grant requires the donated AED be placed at a site that is open to the public.

In 2023, Patrol Officer Julia Hansen used the AED in her squad car to save someone who had a cardiac event in the parking lot at the Four Seasons Center. Following this save, the OPD applied for and received a grant award from the program to receive an AED donation. Since the OPL had a single AED onsite on one of its three floors, a decision was made to place the donated AED there. “With more than 90,000 library visitors each year, this is an ideal opportunity to help be prepared to address medical crises such as a cardiac arrest within the first few critical minutes before emergency responders arrive,” said Police Chief Jeff Mundale. “We are pleased to be able to help obtain this equipment at no charge to our community to help save lives and applaud Val’s diligence in pursuing this grant.”

Center for Resuscitation representative Madison Nelson delivered the AED to police and library staff at the OPL. The program also awarded Hansen a challenge coin recognizing the lifesaving measures she administered which made Owatonna eligible for the donation.

The OPD also received 12 AEDs to equip squad cars with these lifesaving devices in 2023 which allowed the aging ones purchased at least 15 years earlier to be replaced. Due to this grant, squad cars are equipped with new AEDs without impacting the City’s budget.

For additional information about the program, please visit the University of Minnesota website.

City of Owatonna Budget Process Continues

Final Approval Set for December 16

The City of Owatonna held its annual Truth-in-Taxation meeting December 2 to publicly present a summary of and receive input on its proposed budget and levy for 2026. The presentation provided a general explanation of the property tax system, the foundation for the development of the budget, a review of this year’s budget process and the City’s Strategic Priorities along with highlights of the proposed tax levy and budget. 

City Administrator Jenna Tuma announced the staff recommendation for the 2026 tax levy is to reduce it to 9.9 percent from the 13 percent approved by City Council as a preliminary levy on September 16. The City Council will adopt a final 2026 budget and levy at its December 16 meeting. Until the final budget is adopted, the City Council may lower it from the preliminary budget amount, but cannot increase it. Community members are encouraged to provide input throughout the budget process by contacting a City Council Member or the Mayor. For questions regarding property valuations, taxes or property tax relief options, please contact the County Assessor’s Office at 507.444.7435.

View the presentation online for details regarding revenues, expenditures and cost breakdowns. Answers to FAQs are also available online with helpful information about how the levy impacts property taxes. The City’s budget can be viewed online at www.owatonna.gov/Finance.

City Leadership 

The Owatonna City Council meets at 7 pm on the first and third Tuesday of each month at City Hall, 540 West Hills Circle. Contact Council Members with questions, suggestions and concerns.

Elected Officials, Wards & Contact Information

• Doug Voss (At Large) 507.475.0550 douglas.voss@owatonna.gov 
• Dan Boeke (At Large) 507.363.1932 daniel.boeke@owatonna.gov  
• Nathan Dotson (Ward 1) 507.3631189 nathan.dotson@owatonna.gov  
• Don McCann (Ward 2) 507.456.6383 donald.mccann@owatonna.gov  
• David Burbank (Ward 3) 507.451.3166 david.burbank@owatonna.gov 
• Kevin Raney (Ward 4) 507.456.3116 kevin.raney@owatonna.gov 
• Brent Svenby (Ward 5) 507.363.1136 brent.svenby@owatonna.gov 
• Matt Jessop (Mayor) 507.363.1980 mayor@owatonna.gov

Holiday Lighted Parade 

Main Street Owatonna is organizing the 2025 Holiday Lighted Parade. This year’s parade begins at 6 p.m. December 5 on North Cedar Avenue. City staff and vehicles will be on display in the parade from several departments including Police, Fire, Public Works and Parks & Recreation. Immediately following the parade will be the lighting of the trees in Central Park with the Owatonna High School carolers performing on the Central Park Stage.

Information Resources

• Visit owatonna.gov
• Send an email to info@owatonna.gov
• Watch the Public Access Cable Channel 181 on Charter/Spectrum
• Follow the City of Owatonna on Facebook

Helpful Links

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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