City Beat: Happy New Year, Council Leadership for 2024, and Cozy Up and Read

January 9, 2024

Happy New Year to all of our City Beat subscribers! We were thrilled to bring you 23 issues of City Beat in 2023 and look forward to connecting with you in 2024. Know anyone who's always looking for the latest City news? Share this issue with them, and encourage to sign up today to receive every new issue going forward.

Image of fireworks on a dark background with the words Happy New Year! from the City of Red Wing

Council Leadership for 2024

Last night was the first City Council meeting of the year, and that meant elections for City Council leadership positions in 2024. Kim Beise was re-elected as Council President, Janie Farrar was re-elected as Council President Pro Tem, and Evan Brown was elected as Council Vice President. Learn more about your current City Council and Mayor on the City's website. Plus, remember you can reach out anytime to the full Council and Mayor by emailing them at [email protected].

Accessible Garden On the Way

Plants aren't the only things that will be growing at Featherstone Park. Thanks to the Red Wing Area Seniors, the community garden there will grow by 40-by-40 feet. Plus, this garden will be constructed to be ADA accessible, bringing gardening to even more people who might not have the space to do so otherwise. Red Wing Area Seniors will cover all construction and operational costs associated with the garden, and they'll manage their own space and occupants. City Council voted last night to allow them to develop the space, and we're excited to watch this project move forward. Call Red Wing Area Seniors for more information.

Wastewater Tracking the Spread of Illness

Use WastewasteSCAN to Help Track Local Infectious Disease Levels

We see it every winter: increased coughing, sneezing, fevers, and mentions of people catching “whatever’s going around.” Wouldn’t it be nice to have an idea of what’s spreading locally before the kids bring it home from school? You can with WastewaterSCAN. Learn more about how the City has partnered to give you a picture of the rates of various diseases in our community in this video.

Cozy Up and Read

If the recent snow and coming cold makes you want to snuggle up with a good book next to a fireplace, then we've got news for you. Cozy Up and Read is back at the Library. Thanks to the Friends of the Library, library patrons can stop by the service desk for a gift bag and register for a chance to win a prize package. Plus, a different Minnesota author will be at the Library one Saturday per month from January-March, starting with Beth Cato this Saturday at 10 a.m. Visit the Friends of the Red Wing Public Library Facebook page for more info, and stop by the Library for your next cold-weather read.

We Went Viral!

The Red Wing Fire Department's holiday video had been on Facebook for less than 48 hours when we shared it with you in the last City Beat. It was already popular then, but now? We've officially gone viral. The video has more than 3.6 million views, and over 6.6 million Facebook accounts have seen the Fire Department appear in their feeds thanks to the video. Patrick Harris, the AV tech who edited the video, was recognized for his role in creating the City's first viral video last night. Click here to hear what Patrick had to say at the City Council meeting (Item 8.C.). Missed the video or want to watch it again? Click the video player and celebrate the holidays with us one more time.

All in a Career's Work

Police Chief Gordon Rohr never expected that he would be Chief, but since being asked to answer the call, he's more than delivered. Now, after 22 years with the department and three years at the helm, Chief Rohr has announced his retirement, effective next month. Last night, the night of his final Council meeting, he was recognized with a public reception, the declaration of February 9, 2024, as Chief Gordon Rohr Day, and more than one standing ovation. Thank you, Chief Rohr, for your tireless dedication and leadership! You'll surely be missed, and we wish you nothing but the best in retirement. Hear more about his career and from Chief Rohr himself at the City Council meeting (item 8.A.)