City Hall Renovation Progressing

From the City of Northfield, here is the City Administrator’s Memorandum from Northfield City Administrator Tim Madigan for July 12.

In this week’s memo:

Bernie Shakal, Maintenance Facilities supervisor, provides an update on the City Hall renovation project:

The City Hall remodeling project is starting to pick up speed from the set back that was incurred by the asbestos abatement procedure. Walls are being framed up for the new restrooms and other dividing walls in the finance area. Concrete is scheduled to be poured in the old black hole area on Monday of next week. Facilities have been assisting with removal of old mechanical equipment that is no longer used and not included in the demolition portion of the contract.

Jim Kessler, building official, assesses Northfield’s construction activity:

We issued a building permit for another new house this week. The list is still growing. Basic remodeling projects, additions, and alterations are still coming in for residential projects.

The commercial side of things appears to be a little slow right now. The colleges have quite a few projects in process. It appears that MOM Brands will be doing some more fire sprinkler upgrades soon and of course the City Hall and Police stations are in process.

The rental inspections are slow and steady as they should be. We are meeting with a couple of landlords to review the current fee schedule. A proposal may be moving forward to reduce the rental fees now that a better idea of cost has been determined.

Leesa Wisdorf, reference and youth services manager, reports on activities at the Northfield Public Library:

The Summer Reading program resumed after a 4th of July break. Readers are encouraged to learn about diverse library resources by executing 18 of 20 challenge sheet activities to earn this heavy canvas book bag before July 25.

The next Books & Stars concert will be Wednesday, July 17, featuring “The Castaways” at the outdoor pool! Entry into the pool is free after 6pm so take a refreshing dip and listen to some summer rock and roll.

Don’t miss 2012 Grammy Folk winners “The Okee Dokee Brothers” who perform for Books & Stars on July 24 at Way Park. This Minnesota duo are packing events all over the nation this summer and we are excited to have them perform for us in Northfield.

Booker opens at 6:30 and the concert begins at 7pm.

Talent Show entries are still being accepted until July 17th for the July 31 Books & Stars. This will be the final event of the 2013 season. Additional information and applications are available online: http://northfieldpubliclibrary.blogspot.com/

The Friends of the Library welcomed back president Bill North who had been absent the past 3 months wearing his professor’s robes and co-teaching Medieval History with his wife, Victoria Morse, in Rome.

The Friends are working on their next fiscal budget and planning a retreat to determine fall fundraising events and discuss new ways to support the library during the 2013-2014 year. After a successful spring membership drive led by board vice-president Margit Johnson, the Friends hit an all-time high enrollment of 270 members. Thanks to all the Northfield residents who are helping support library programs by becoming FFOL members!