Celebrate Juneteenth with a community event on Wednesday, June 19! The day starts with a basketball tournament at the Y at 11 a.m., followed by a downtown history walk that begins at Central Park at 1 p.m. Then, from 3-7 p.m. the celebration will fill Central Park with food, music, and fun. Musical artist Timothy Brown will headline. This year's event is planned and organized by students in the high school's Black Student Union and a grassroots community group. Bring the whole family! |
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 |  | Discussions continue on the possibility of building a new public safety facility in the next three years that would house the Red Wing Police Department (RWPD). For decades, the RWPD has rented space from the County, and the RWPD has shared space with the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office in the Law Enforcement Center on Sixth Street. A County space study in 2023 showed the Sheriff’s Office would likely soon outgrow its current space. So for the last year, the City and County have been meeting periodically to weigh options on how to meet the future needs of both departments. To keep open the option of building a new, separate facility, City Council members voted unanimously on Monday to focus its efforts on one site: 17 acres at the southeast corner of Tyler Road South and Technology Drive. They also voted to gather more details on a block-concept (ballpark) cost estimate for a facility that would include a RWPD and Public Works facility combined, knowing the Public Works building won't last forever. Parallel talks are still happening with Goodhue County on a possible expansion at the current site. You can see the slide presentation to the Council here, and watch Police Chief Nick Sather's talk here (item 11.B.). More details to come in City Beat as plans progress.
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Showcasing Artistic Skills | |
Left to right: First place winner Kris Nepoose, second place winner Ella Clancy, and third place winner Allison Kruger. | |
Congratulations to Kris Nepoose, Ella Clancy, and Allison Kruger, the winners of this year's Young Artists and Authors Showcase! The local showcase is presented annually by the Sister Cities Commission, and the winner goes on to the Sister Cities International competition. In total, twelve local entries were received via collaboration with Red Wing High School art teacher Kristin Bray. Retired Red Wing art teacher Peg Hansen judged the entries based on how well they captured the theme of "ClimateScape: Resilient Cities for Tomorrow’s Climate." We're proud to have such talented young artists in our community. | |
High water at Colvill Park on Monday | Water level at Levee Park on Monday | |
You might've noticed some brief closures along the river late last week and over the weekend, and if so, we have good news. Everything except for the drive lane/gate at Levee Park is open again. The water crested below the initial predictions that prompted the precautionary measures, skating just under the recommended action stage of 12 feet. Were the closures really necessary then? The answer is yes. On June 4, the NOAA predictions that City staff rely on indicated a crest of 13.5 feet on June 10. That meant that preparations needed to get underway so they would be complete by the end of the week. While predictions were later lowered, Public Works' priority is to protect public safety and the park amenities, so the precautions needed to stay in place in case we reached the action stage. We're happy that things were able to start reopening quickly and that we can count on Public Works to have our best interests in mind. | |
Which Streets & Intersections Aren't Safe? | |
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Where are the streets, highways, and intersections in Red Wing you think need safety improvements? Fill out our road safety survey to let us know. Lots of folks so far have shared their thoughts – so keep them coming! Five minutes of your time now could lead to a community that's easier and safer to get around for everyone in the future. The questionnaire closes June 20, so answer the survey today. (And thank you.)
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Who's in the Running to Represent You? | |
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Now that we know who's officially in the running for City offices this year, it's time to start thinking about who should get your vote. If you live in Ward 3 or 4, you'll have an important vote to cast this August. Three candidates have filed to be the council member for Wards 3 & 4 combined, and your vote in the August 13 primary election will help determine which two will move on to the general election. However, if you live in Ward 1 or Ward 2, you won't have to make any Red Wing-specific decisions until November. That's because the races for Mayor, Ward 1 Council Member, and Ward 2 Council Member each have two or fewer candidates who will automatically appear on the general election ballot. See who'll be on the ballot this year and learn more about City elections here. Vote early or in person, but don't miss the opportunity to make your vote count this year!
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A Specs-tacular Sculpture | |
Now that waters are receding, it's the perfect time to head to Colvill Park and peer at the river through the park's famous Spectacles sculpture. This eye-catching sculpture may be a favorite spot for photo ops, but there's definitely more to its story than just that. Watch the latest episode of Art Around Red Wing to see what we're talking about. | |
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Unearthing Facts About Earthworms | |
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Fishing is a popular activity this time of year, and of the bait choices available, earthworms can be a popular selection. However, while earthworms might be good for catching fish in the water, they generally aren't good for our environment back on land. According to the Minnesota DNR, all common bait worms in Minnesota are non-native, invasive species that can harm ecosystems, including the state's hardwood forests. What should you do with your extra bait then? Dispose of it in the trash instead of dumping it out in the woods or anywhere else. Learn more about earthworms and their impact on our forests and soil here.
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Making Gardening More Accessible | |
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A new ADA-accessible community garden has officially sprouted up at Featherstone Park! Adjacent to the existing community garden there off West Maple Ave., the new garden opened on June 5 and includes raised beds and ADA-accessible paths. The effort was championed by resident Marti Pierce, who partnered with Pier 55 Red Wing Area Seniors to be the fiscal sponsor. Several donors helped to make the garden a reality, and City Council members and City staff were happy to meet and work with Marti along the way. For more information about the garden, contact Pier 55 Executive Director Kim Wojcik at rwasdirector@gmail.com.
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Thank you and congratulations to Frank Sperlak and Marshall Hallock, who were both recognized last night as they retire from the Red Wing Fire Department. Frank Sperlak, who retired with the rank of Paid On Call Captain was honored for his 30 years of service to the department, and Paid On Call Firefighter Marshall Hallock was honored for his 20 years of service. You'll still see Marshall around the City in his full-time role as our Administrative Business Director. Both Frank and Marshall will certainly be missed at the Fire Department, though, and their dedication to the community has been sincerely appreciated.
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City Council Budget Workshop
City Council Chambers
Monday, June 17, at 5 p.m.
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Advisory Planning Commission Meeting
City Council Chambers
Tuesday, June 18, at 5:30 p.m.
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Sheldon Theatre Board Meeting
City Council Chambers
Tuesday, June 18, at 5:15 p.m.
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City Council Meeting
City Council Chambers
Monday, June 24, at 6 p.m.
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