City Beat: Time for Candidate Forums and End of Summer Prizes

August 28, 2020

Boards and Commissions and liaisons, oh my! The Youth Commission and Human Rights Commission are each looking for a very part-time staff liaison to act as a conduit between the commission and City Council. Sounds cool, right? You might just be the person they need!

Learn more & apply.

Image of an empty seat in Council Chambers

Voters, Meet Your Candidates

Image of a yellow sign against blue sky with Elections Just Ahead

Sept. 10: MN House and Senate &

County Commissioners

Sept. 15: RW School Board

Sept. 17: RW Mayor and Council

The 2020 General Election is November 3--do you know who you're voting for? This year, the League of Women Voters invites you to meet the candidates running for City Council and Mayor, School Board, State House & Senate, and County Commissioner. All three "Meet the Candidate" events will feature a moderated Q&A, with questions submitted by residents, as well as a meet-and-greet time before each event. This is your chance to meet the candidates who will help lead our city, schools, and region. Hope to see you in Central Park in September!

Budget Decisions Happening Now

Council Members want to hear from YOU!

Now is the time to let your City Council members know how you want your tax dollars spent in 2021. Budget meetings continue, and you can be a part of that process. Find all the budget documents and details here. To contact all your Council members and mayor at once, use this email address. It's easy and fast!

What's Next for the St. Joseph's Building?

The future of the former St. Joseph's Church auxiliary building at 480 Eighth Street remains uncertain. Developer Hank Friederichs originally proposed to create 11 market-rate apartments in the vacant building, but reduced it to nine apartments following the urging of City Council and the feedback of area residents at a neighborhood meeting. The revised plan passed City Council, but was then vetoed by the Mayor, causing the proposal to go back before Council for reconsideration during Monday's meeting. The veto was upheld by the City Council, so the application was denied. Watch the discussion during the meeting here.

Advisory Team Starts in September

The Advisory Team on Government Policies and Practices will work over multiple years to make local government's policies and practices more racially equitable. The first phase of the team's work is an 18-month dive into public safety and policing, with the first two meetings happening September 9 and 23. A portion of each meeting will be open to the public, and meetings will be virtual until Covid-19 safety guidelines change. The public will have the chance to take a community-wide survey in September and also have an online opportunity available to send in questions and ideas throughout the process. More details to come. Read this city website page for information.

You've Got an Issue?

If you've noticed something around the City we should know about, use our website to tell us about it. The easy "Report an Issue" feature lets you notify us that a branch is down in your favorite park or that the stop sign on the corner needs replacing. Learn what and how to use this tool in just one minute. Get clickin', Red Wing!

Ready, Set...

...prizes! Even though this summer wasn't what we expected, Ready, Set, Red Wing! opened up a world of adventure with the Summer 2020 Activity Book. Now, get rewarded for all the fun you had! Once your Activity Book is as complete as possible, bring it to a drop-off location to receive a free notebook (while supplies last) and entry into a grand prize giveaway! Activity Books can be turned in anytime up until Friday, September 11, so there's still time to complete more activities and ready, set, explore Red Wing!

Nominate for the Human Rights Award

Who stands up for the change you want to see in the world? Nominate one or more people in the Red Wing Area that stands up for human rights so the world will be a better place. This is the 19th year of the Human Rights Commission's Amos Owen Award, and anyone is eligible. You'll find nominations forms here. Take two minutes to nominate and hold up someone who dedicates their time to holding up the lives of others. The deadline is September 21 at 4 p.m.

Deadline: September 21 at 4 p.m.

Can You Find It?

It turns out, many of you are history buffs extraordinaire! Rosemary Harnly was one of the many knowledgeable readers who correctly identified the grave marker as that of the Betcher family in Oakwood Cemetery.

Fun fact--Margaret Betcher donated the funds for the Betcher Memorial Chapel (that's right, it has a name!) that sits at the entrance to the grounds.

Red Wing Arts invites you on an Architecture Tour of Oakwood Cemetery, from the chapel to a variety of beautiful, unique headstones, while learning some of the history of one of Red Wing's oldest locations. You can even earn a prize from taking a self-guided tour! See the brochure and plan your trip on the City's website.

All in a Day's Work - Sue Iverson

Meet one of the newest members of the Administrative Finances Department: Sue Iverson. Sue joined the City earlier this year as the Finance and Accounting Manager, and her job keeps her busy. "I don’t think most people realize that virtually everything the City does runs through the Finance Department," she says. The best part of her job? Her coworkers, particularly the teamwork and support. "They're my family away from home," she says. With budget planning in full swing, we are happy to have her here. Thanks for all you do, Sue!