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A vote Tuesday night at the City Council meeting on banning Conversion Therapy revealed some differences of opinion between the mayor and members of the City Council.  

Conversion Therapy is a controversial form of treatment for those who identify as gay that seeks to turn them away from homosexuality. Critics of the practice say it can be harmful and cause lifelong mental health issues, particularly when used with children. The ordinance came before the council at the request of the members of the Human Rights Commission, who have been working on the idea for two years.  

At least twenty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 100 municipalities across the country have instituted a conversion therapy ban, and Governor Tim Walz has issued an Executive Order instructing the Minnesota Departments of Health and Commerce to take civil action against insurance companies that cover conversion therapy under unfair business practice rules.  

City Administrator Ben Martig said the major issue that arose on the council through the discussion is whether or not Northfield sits at the appropriate level of government to make a therapeutic ban.  

“Maybe the State of Minnesota will be taking this on. It’s been at the legislature for a couple of sessions and hasn’t been able to move on, but ultimately everybody agreed that ideally this would be action taken at the state level.”  

Mayor Rhonda Pownell said she does not believe the city should be making therapeutic legislation, pointing out that the state tends to administer to most mental health issues at the county level. She said it is her belief that is where a ban like this should be imposed. Councilor Brad Ness said he would support the measure, but he also believes the ban should be put into effect at the state or county level.   

Councilor Jami Reister responded to the concerns by stating that she believes municipal government to be the most appropriate level to put a conversion ban in place.  

“We are not overstepping our role,” she said. “This is exactly our role. The name is a misnomer. This is not therapy, this is abuse. The city is stopping abuse of our kids and saying, ‘We will protect our LGBTQ+ and non-gender conforming citizens.’”  

The first reading of the ordinance passed by a vote of 6-1 with Mayor Pownell as the only dissenting vote. The second reading will come before the council at their next meeting on July 12.  

Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with City Administrator Ben Martig and City Councilor Suzie Nakasian can be heard here  

School Board accepts Facilities Task Force Report  

The Northfield School Board will be asked to put in some unscheduled work this summer to discuss the state and the future of the Northfield High School building.   

Over the spring, the district convened a task force, made up of about 40 people that included faculty and staff, high school students, parents of students in all grade levels, and community members without children in the district. The group was asked to evaluate the high school focusing on the existing building and how remodeling and renovations could improve it. The school was built in 1966, with renovations made in 1993 and 1997. The school is generally considered to be in sound condition, if a patchwork due to the additions, because the district has taken care of it and made upgrades to things like the electrical system when needed. However, there are several areas that are in need of upgrades, and those areas are reflected in the task force’s final report.  

The HVAC and insulation situation is not good. Certain parts of the school, particularly in the original section, are under insulated, if they are insulated at all. Many of the windows are single pain glass and there are sections of the school where the walls are simply made of layers of bricks. There are other areas that are deemed educationally inadequate. The music areas are in great need of upgrade, and much of the athletics facilities- fields, courts, practice and training facilities – are thought to be in the lower tier of the Big Nine Conference.   

Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann said the board will meet for a work session on Monday night to discuss the report further, and to begin to formulate a plan.  

“We’re putting a plan together which will include identifying the point where we might want to come to the community to get their approval for either some additions and renovations to the high school, or something different. That will be the discussion this summer. I would say over the next 4-6 weeks we’re going to have some very intense discussion around that.”  

All told, the total of the recommendations made by the task force will come to $87 million. Hillmann said the district believes the price to build a new high school would be $118-$120 million.  

A referendum to build a new high school was defeated in 2018. While Hillmann said the task force was told not to consider a new building, another referendum for that purpose on the November ballot is a possibility.  

Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann can be heard here  

Carleton ‘Lighten Up’ Garage Sale set for today and tomorrow  

And today marks the return of yet another Northfield tradition that was waylaid by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Carleton College “Lighten Up” garage sale.  

At the end of every school year, Carleton students donate unwanted items that they either do not wish to take with them or cannot take with them as they leave campus. The items are then sold in a garage sale setting at Laird Stadium. Traditionally, the sheer amount of items available for sale is substantial and ranges from clothing to furniture to books and school supplies and much more. This year, due to the Covid inspired backlog, the sale is set to be the largest in its history.  

Proceeds from the sale benefit local nonprofits, The Northfield Union of Youth and Project Friendship, plus a donation is made to the Special Olympics. The sale runs today from 7am to 5pm and tomorrow from 8am to 1pm.  

Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net  

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Carleton College garage sale, City of Northfield, Conversion Therapy, Northfield City Council, Northfield High School, Northfield Public Schools

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