Straight River Apartments under construction in 2022. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo March 2022)
IN RECENT YEARS, Faribault has experienced a boon in apartment building construction, especially in the downtown area. Hillside Apartments, Straight River Apartments and Riverchase Apartments have all opened with Riverchase II coming soon.
Additionally space in downtown historic buildings has been, or will be, rehabbed into more apartments.
At the former Farmer Seed & Nursery site along Minnesota State Highway 60, Midwest Flats Apartments are under construction.
And on the south end of town are the new Elmview Apartments.
That’s a whole lot of apartments added to already long-standing apartment complexes and other rental units in the city. But apparently the need and demand are there based on discussions among local government officials.
Housing will focus a monthly City Council Chat slated for 5 pm Wednesday, March 11, at Viaduct Park. Specifically, Maxfield Research will present results of a housing needs analysis done for the Faribault Housing and Redevelopment Authority. That will include demographic trends, market demand, affordability challenges and projected housing needs over the coming years, according to the city of Faribault.
I’m curious about the results of that study. As an aging Baby Boomer, I hold a different outlook on local housing needs than a young person or young family just settling into the community or looking to buy a home.
What I appreciate about the monthly Council Chats are the focused topics, the informality of the gatherings, and opportunities for the public to ask questions, comment and mingle with city employees and elected officials. This is about as grassroots as it gets in local government. Listen. Learn. Discuss. Make informed decisions.
Downtown Faribault during a snowstorm on a recent Sunday afternoon. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo December 2025)
COMPLAIN. COMPLAIN. COMPLAIN. We all do it, right? While venting helps, that doesn’t solve problems. But listening, really listening, and sharing ideas thoughtfully and respectfully moves us toward solutions.
With that introduction, I point to the city of Faribault and its monthly Council Chats, an opportunity to engage with elected officials, city staff and others on issues of concern within the community. I’ve been to several of these and really appreciate the informal format of short presentation followed by a Q & A and then mingling. “Chat” definitely fits.
Faribault has experienced a surge in apartment construction in recent years, especially near downtown. This shows Straight River Apartments under construction in April 2022. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo 2022)
This month’s meeting, set for 6 pm Wednesday, January 14, at the Viaduct Park building, is promoted as a “Community Listening Session” led jointly by city staff and the Community Action Center, a community-based human services nonprofit in Faribault (and also in Northfield). Lack of housing, environmental concerns and employment opportunities will focus discussion. Those have been identified as top issues by city residents.
Based on the pre-event information I’ve read, the Community Listening Session promises to be a worthwhile sharing of information, exchange of ideas and thoughtful conversation. Attendees will be able to view and give feedback on locally-themed posters with Faribault specific data. It is the feedback that I find invaluable in planning for the future of my community. Attendees may have other concerns they wish to address.
The Community Action Center, according to its Facebook page, has been working hard to gather information for Wednesday’s chat:
Over the last few months we’ve been collecting meaningful feedback from our neighbors about important topics impacting all of our daily lives. Through one-on-one conversations with food shelf shoppers and folks at community events, by carefully listening to parent groups and partners, while reading responses from multilingual surveys, and by hearing participant stories, we are finally prepared (and excited) to share the perspectives and experiences that will help inform the future of our community.
The Gathering Room at Viaduct Park, the city’s newest park, will be the site of Wednesday evening’s Council Chat Listening Session. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo December 2025)
I am hopeful turn-out for this event will be good. People are too quick to criticize, especially on social media. Too quick to blame. Too quick to attack. Too quick to think their voice either doesn’t matter or is the only one that matters.
In many ways, these Council Chats are the most basic form of grassroots government—like sitting down over a cup of coffee, or a bottle of beer if you prefer that, and talking to one another sensibly. If we actually listen to one another, then perhaps together we can forge a plan of action that betters our community.
So you voted, then what? (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo)
TWICE I’VE ATTENDEDCity Council Chats in Faribault, a recently-implemented way of connecting local residents with the people they’ve elected and with city employees. And I’ve gotta say, I’m impressed.
All too often, there’s a disconnect, a feeling that elected officials aren’t listening and don’t care what constituents think. But I’ve found, at these informal sessions, that I am heard. I have a voice. Council members and staff members are, indeed, willing to listen. They care, because Faribault is their home, too, and they want this to be the best place it can be.
So how exactly do these Council Chats work? Once a month, the council sets a time and place to address a specific topic. Locations and times vary. You just show up. There may be a brief presentation. Or not. But there’s always time to mingle and ask questions of council members, city staff and others.
A rock arch rapids like this one in Pine River is being considered for Faribault. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo July 2024)
FOCUS ON TWO FARIBAULT DAMS
Wednesday evening, for example, the Chat had an open house format to gather public feedback on options for improving the Woolen Mill Dam and the adjacent north dam on the Cannon River. A 2024 flood damaged the northern wall of the Mill Dam so repairs or improvements are needed. And now, the city decided, is an ideal time to consider alternatives beyond repairs.
You may wonder why I care about these two dams. Well, last summer I saw a rock arch rapids replacement of a traditional dam in Pine River in north central Minnesota. I loved what I saw. Smaller rip-rap rocks, larger rocks and boulders were placed in sloping rows across the Pine River, replacing the 200-foot long by 13-foot high 1910 concrete dam. Water spills over the rocks in a visually-pleasing way that looks almost natural. This area along the Pine River draws outdoor enthusiasts to fish, swim and more. That got me thinking about the dams in Faribault. Could we have the same thing—rock arch rapids that improve water quality, fishing and recreation while also functioning as a dam?
When I learned about the Council Chat addressing the two dams, I wanted to see if rock arch rapids were being considered. They are. An engineering firm presented multiple options, all laid out in architectural drawings spread across several tables. I could actually see choices. I had plenty of opportunity to study the designs, ask questions, get answers and offer my input. Attendees could even vote on project priorities, like fishing, canoeing, cost, funding and more. Just place a colored dot sticker next to your top three priorities.
I’ve never forgotten the message on this photo I photographed at a Civil Rights March exhibit at St. Olaf College in Northfield. It’s powerful. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo)
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
Like the previous Council Chat I attended, questions and conversations were encouraged in this informal, relaxed setting. I felt a comfortable level of accessibility, something not found at a regular city council meeting with an agenda and limited time for the public to speak. Certainly, those formal meetings are necessary to discuss, debate and make official decisions. But these Council Chats add a new, approachable dimension to city government that I appreciate. They directly involve the public.
Elected officials at all levels should embrace this way of listening to voters rather than keeping their distance. And, yes, I’m referencing the town halls many federal politicians are currently avoiding. Our government representatives need to hear our thoughts, our ideas, our concerns. And we, as voters, as Americans, need to continue expressing ourselves, educating ourselves, letting our voices be heard.
TELL ME: What, if anything, do your elected officials do to encourage constituent engagement so your voice is heard?
FYI: The next City Council Chat will give an airport overview and will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, at the Faribault Municipal Airport.Past Chats have covered the budget, construction projects, nuisance/blighted properties, tree removal and affordable housing.
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