Issue 5, Friday, October 30, 2026

What Owatonna voters decide on Tuesday

The $65 million public safety bond, 13 council candidates, 8 for school board, and where and when to vote.

Polls are open Tuesday, Nov 3, from 7 am to 8 pm. Every city voter decides the bond question and the at-large council race. Wards 1, 3 and 5 also pick a ward member.

Question 1 reads: "Shall the City of Owatonna be authorized to issue its general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $65,000,000 for the purpose of acquiring, constructing and equipping new public safety facilities for the City's police and fire departments?" The city's plan is a new police department on the city-owned lot on North Street next to Cash Wise and a new fire station where the Law Enforcement Center stands now. Its referendum site says the fire station dates to 1906 and the police work out of a former bank nearly 60 years old. The city's Oct 14 newsletter says the $65 million covers both buildings, training and technology, demolition of the old Law Enforcement Center and three city-owned houses beside it, a cul-de-sac on part of Pearl Street, and temporary police space on Bridge Street.

Council member at large, one seat, all voters: Dan Boeke, Joseph Peterson and Tony Jurowski. Ward 1: Tim McManimon and Brad Flemming. Ward 3: Marcy Busho, Sarah Sanchez, Ethan Becker and Rick Gnemi. Ward 5: Bruce Nelson, Melissa Danielson, Rebecca Rand and Dale A Fairbanks.

Also on the ballot: four school board seats, county commissioner in Districts 1 and 2, State Representative (Zack Meyman, Thomas J. Sexton), State Senator (John R. Jasinski, Sam Powell), and a Permanent School Fund amendment.

In brief

Where to vote Tuesday. Precinct 1 is listed first, then Precinct 2. Ward 1: Trinity Lutheran Church, 609 Lincoln Ave; Associated Church, 800 Havana Road. Ward 2: Owatonna Public Library, 105 N Elm Ave; Bethel Church, 1611 Hemlock Ave. Ward 3: Council Chambers, 540 West Hills Circle; Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 750 Jeffrey St. Ward 4: Sacred Heart Parish Center, 810 S Cedar Ave, enter at 739 South Oak; Christ Community Covenant Church, 540 18th St SE. Ward 5: Grace Baptist Church, 265 26th St NE; Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1909 St Paul Rd. Unsure: pollfinder.sos.mn.gov.

Vote early through Monday. Room 40, downstairs at the Steele County Administration Center, 630 Florence Ave: today until 4:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 3 pm, Monday 8 am to 5 pm. For registration and absentee rules, the city and county both send you to the Secretary of State at sos.mn.gov. City questions: elections@owatonna.gov or 507-774-7341.

School board: eight for four seats. Darren Albers, Damian Baum, Nikki Gieseke, Elizabeth Hedlund, Christopher Lee, Ann Miller, Timothy O'Connor and April St. Martin are running for four at-large seats with four-year terms starting Jan 4, 2027. Board members are paid $4,000 a year.

County commissioners. District 1: Justin Ohnstad and Gary Spatenka. District 2: John Glynn, the current commissioner. The chamber's last candidate forum, for these races, is Monday at noon (see Coming up).

The council's own raise, for context. Whoever wins will be paid a little more. On Oct 6 the council gave first reading to Ordinance 26-08, raising elected officials' stipends starting January 2027, about $8,652 a year in total. Boeke, who is a candidate, voted no, saying he believes in the "citizen statesman" and nobody does it for the money; he put the raise at about $80 a month per member. Don McCann also voted no, saying residents are asking the city to "do more with less." Council Member Dotson, who leaves the council at the end of the year, voted yes: "there is never a good time to vote yourself a raise," but the job has grown more demanding. Final passage came Oct 20, 5-2.

School fund amendment. The district's newsletter says the Permanent School Fund amendment would change how the fund supports schools and that leaving the question blank counts as a no vote. Details at mnPSFamendment.org.

Around town

Halloween downtown. Downtown Trick or Treat runs Saturday, 11 am to 1 pm, at Central Park, with Parks and Rec, the Youth Scholarship Committee, police and firefighters handing out treats. Fire department tips: battery candles in jack-o'-lanterns and a flashlight for each kid.

Clocks back, batteries in. Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov 1. The fire department suggests changing smoke alarm batteries at the same time; a chirping sealed 10-year alarm must be replaced outright.

Odd-even parking starts Nov 15. From Nov 15 to March 31, if you park on the street between 12:01 am and noon, use the even-numbered side on even dates and the odd side on odd dates, whatever the weather. Streets already limited to one side are exempt.

Coming up

Sat Oct 31, 7 pm: Section 1AAAAA football semifinal, Owatonna High School. Sat Oct 31 and Sun Nov 1, 9 am to 3 pm: Early voting, Room 40, county Administration Center. Mon Nov 2, 8 am to 5 pm. Mon Nov 2, noon to 1:30 pm: Chamber candidate forum, county commissioner Districts 1 and 2, Owatonna Country Club, 1991 Lemond Road. Free; lunch at 11:30 is $16. Mon Nov 2, 4:30 pm: Park Board, West Hills Social Commons, 500 Dunnell Drive. Tue Nov 3, 7 am to 8 pm: Election Day at the city's 10 precinct sites. Wed Nov 4, 5 pm: Council study session on the Alderman Hall Pool and 2027 budget; regular meeting 7 pm, City Hall. Wed Nov 4 to Wed Nov 11: Operation Green Light. The county asks residents to put a green light in a window for veterans. Sat Nov 7, 10 am to 1 pm: Public flu shot clinic, Owatonna Middle School. 1 to 3 pm: Open swim, West Hills Pool.

One more thing

Some of Tuesday's election judges will be teenagers. When the council approved its slate of judges Oct 6, Administrative Coordinator Jeanette Clawson said the county had added a training session because of interest from students, and six high school students had expressed interest in serving. Resolution 92-26 passed unanimously.

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