Make your holidays merry and bright (and keep them from going up in flames) by practicing holiday fire safety. For example, be sure to keep that natural tree a safe distance from your roaring fireplace. Check out this video for more holiday fire safety tips, and enjoy your celebrations without the Fire Department crashing your party.
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City Council overrode the Mayor's veto on the 2022 budget during last night's City Council meeting with a 5-1 vote. The 2022 property tax levy represents a 3% increase over 2021. Want to see how everything came together? Click here to explore an interactive document that lays it all out.
Click here for a copy of a presentation to help you understand your property taxes. Planning for the 2023 budget will soon be underway with the first public meeting held in March. Watch City Beat for future details.
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Special Election Next Summer |
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A seat on the City Council is officially open after former Ward 2 City Council member Andy Klitzke resigned effective December 10. His resignation means Red Wing will hold a special election to fill his seat, but due to redistricting of voting areas within the city limits, the earliest the election can be held is on August 9. If you live in Ward 2 and want to be a vital part of government at the local level, use the next few months to consider if you're ready to run for City Council. |
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What Should I Take to the Waste Campus?
Holiday Edition
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What happens when that string of lights goes out, that wreath starts to brown, and the wrapping paper starts to pile up? You can responsibly dispose of old holiday lights and extension cords for free in a special drop-off location in front of the Waste Campus office until January 15. You can also take your holiday greens (with no metal/wire) there from December 27 to January 15 for free. Finally, wrapping paper might seem recyclable, but you should actually keep it out of your recycling bin. Gift wrap is often printed with too much colored or metallic ink to make it easily recyclable. So repurpose it or toss it in the trash, but please don't recycle it. |
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Taking Action Toward Racial Equity |
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As Human Rights Week is recognized across the country, we're celebrating a milestone locally, too. City Council recently adopted the final draft of the City's 2022 Strategic Racial Equity Action Plan. Community input and ideas shaped the entire plan, and now City boards, commissions, staff, and the Council -- together with the community -- will implement the plan's strategies. Learn more about our commitment to racial equity in our community by clicking here. |
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Making the Great Outdoors Even Greater |
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He Mni Can-Barn Bluff and the Cannon Valley Trail are each set to receive roughly half a million dollars in improvements in 2023. It's part of a record $12.2 million in funding that the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission is recommending to the Minnesota Legislature, which annually approves the requests through the Parks and Trails Legacy Fund. Funds for He Mni Can-Barn Bluff will focus on the G.A. Carlson Lime Kiln area as Phase 2 of the bluff's master plan: building accessible trails and seating, plus educational signs, landscaping, and lighting. Curious about this area? Check it out now - just grab your boots and take a short winter hike. |
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Changes to Nuclear Plant Storage Proposed |
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Changes to the way spent fuel is stored at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant may be on the way. Xcel Energy is proposing to allow a different cask design to be used for loading future spent fuel casks. The change would be for the last nine casks of the 64 the facility is allowed. The proposed change required a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to be completed, and the draft is expected in January. Following that, the timeline includes a public comment period and a final SEIS before the state Public Utilities Commission makes a decision on approving Xcel Energy's request. Watch this video clip for more details on the process, and take a look at the report they submitted to the City Council for more information. |
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Civil War History Comes to Life |
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Special thanks to the Second Battery of Light Artillery Reenactors: Bruce Arnoldy, Neil Bruce, John Cain, Ken Cunningham, Mike Cunningham, Daryl Duden, Bart Hoekstra, James Livingstone, Michael Ritchie, John Watkins and Ron Wendel |
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On April 15, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling forth the state militias to suppress a rebellion, and men from Red Wing and the surrounding areas answered the call in droves. During the ensuing battles of the Civil War, they fought for their country with the tools of their time. Their history and sacrifice are important, and one group is helping to keep it alive. Join us in the following video as the Second MN Battery of Light Artillery Reenactors demonstrates the firing of a Model 1861 10 Pounder Parrott Rifle, a cannon just like the soldiers from our area would have fired on those battle fields long ago. |
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Coming Soon: Plan for Homelessness and Housing Instability |
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That's a wrap. The final community homelessness and housing instability meeting was held earlier this month. Thank you to everyone who participated and added their input! Now, Ali Niemi of North Star Consulting will compile a final report that will be presented at a January City Council meeting. In the meantime, visit the Homelessness and Housing Instability web page for more information on the full process of how we got to this point. |
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When Jason Frion started working at the Waste Campus 20 years ago, it looked a bit different than it does today. Jason's career has changed too, from boiler operator to maintenance supervisor, and now Refuse and Recycling Superintendent. That alone would keep him busy, but for more than a decade, he's also been the City's forklift, UTV, and aerial work platforms trainer. Aside from work, Jason puts just as much dedication into his family. Throughout his 27 years of marriage to his wife, Julie, they've raised two children and made a lot of great memories. An avid hunter and fisherman, Jason has been taking annual trips to South Dakota for as long he's been working at the Waste Campus. That's dedication we can admire. Congratulations on 20 years, Jason! |
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Sister Cities Commission Special Meeting
City Council Chambers
Wednesday, December 15 at 5 p.m.
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Advisory Planning Commission
City Council Chambers
Tuesday, December 21 at 7 p.m.
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Sheldon Theatre Board Meeting
City Council Chambers
Tuesday, December 21 at 5:15 p.m.
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Port Authority Special Meeting
City Council Chambers
Tuesday, January 4 at 7:30 a.m.
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City Council Organizational Meeting
City Council Chambers
Tuesday, January 4 at 5 p.m.
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Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting
City Council Chambers
Wednesday, January 5 at 5:30 p.m.
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