Current Issues
 

RiverWorks Opening Food Shelf on March 8, 2010

The city is leasing an old building to RiverWorks Community Development for a food shelf and to provide other resources to the community.  The group along with many volunteers have provided all of the labor and materials needed to update the building for use.  The work involved was tremendous and has transformed the old building with updated offices, conference room, food shelf, and restroom facilities.  The building is located next to the Rockford Library at 8230 Cedar Street, along Main Street.  The grand opening held on March 6th was a great success.  This project has really brought the community together.

Food Shelf hours of operation:

Monday 5:30-8:00pm, Tuesday 9:00-11:00am, Thursday 5:30-8:00pm. The 3rd Wednesday of each month is Senior Day 9:00-11:00am. March is Minnesota Food Shelf Month, please consider making a donation.

For more information check out their web site at:  www.riverworksonline.org, contact Denise at 763-607-9803 or email: dkesanen@riverworksonline.org

Community Expo

The Rockford Community Education/Center is hosting the 2010 Community Expo on March 20, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be held at the Rockford community center which is attached to the Rockford High School (7600 County Road 50). The Expo includes exhibits from local organizations and businesses. Another draw to this event includes: stage demonstrations, food, children's area, door prizes and cash prizes.  For more information contact Barb Northway 763-477-5294.

Flood Levee Project 

After many years of planning for this project the rehabilitation of the flood control levee in the downtown has been completed with the exception of some landscaping to be completed in the spring of 2010. The city bonded $525,000 for the project which will not increase taxes as this bond payment will replace a bond that was paid in full at the end of 2009.  to Doboszenski & Sons were awarded the bid to rebuild the levee on the south end. The project required moving Freedom Park, but the city has plans to replace the park farther north along the levee. The improved levee will be eligible for the Army Corps Rehabilitation Inspection Program (RIP).  Which will pay for 80% of the costs of maintaining the flood control levee. Stop down along Mechanic and Lieder Streets catch adjacent to the Bridge Street bridge and see the improved levee.  

Parkwood Residential Development

The Parkwood Development located on the south side of Highway 55 west of the city limits was originally platted in 2006 and included 319 lots.  The development would take place in phases,  first phase included 73 lots. The remaining lots have been on hold due to a western access requirement.  A recent meeting the city had with  Lennar and Wagner's the developers of Parkwood they are looking at reducing the number of lots in the development.  A concept plan will be submitted in the near future and reviewed by the Planning commission and City Council.  Lennar stated they want to start building in the Parkwood development once the new plans are approved. 

 .Developments

Residential development map shows where lots are available. Map  Commercial and industrial lots available in the city are located on the economic development page..

Send Us Your Email Addresses

In an effort to save money the city no longer makes copies of our newsletter and mails them out to each homeowner. Instead we post the newsletter on our website. The city would like to keep residents informed and is creating an email list of property owners so that we can send you our newsletter, event notices, hydrant flushing dates, road closings, etc.  If you want to be included in our list please send your email address to: audrae@cityofrockford.org

Rockford Ends the Year with a Positive General Fund Balance!

At the end of December the city's general fund budget has a positive balance due to budget cuts that were made during the year.  There will still be a few more invoices that will be expenses from 2009 but I am happy to say that Rockford will not have to take money out of the reserve to make up for a deficit in 2009.  The city's audit will take place the first week of March, so I am not going to include any dollar amounts until the audit is complete and all is set and done. 

Sherburne/Wright Cable Commission

The City of Rockford is a member of the Sherburne/Wright Cable Commission.  At a recent meeting of the cable commission held February 4th the commission acted to pay out three (3) quarters of the franchise fees collected by Charter Cable to the member cities in 2010.  For Rockford that translates to about $21,000.  Members cities sited the fact that budgets are tight, employee wages have been froze for the past two years, cities have had employee layoffs, increased benefit costs,  less tax capacity, Market Value reductions, etc.  

Rockford/Greenfield Chamber of Commerce 

The Rockford-Greenfield Chamber of Commerce is official.  The board has met a few times to discuss the mission statement, goals, etc. The group reviewed Requests for Proposals for a Chamber Website at a recent meeting.  The chamber is seeking additional members and a committee will be working on increasing the membership.  The applications for new members is available on our website now and may be sent back to the city in care of audrae@cityofrockford.org.  form  The next chamber meeting is scheduled for March 11th at noon at Bank West.  Contact city hall to RSVP. 

Market study Rockford for Grocer and Retail

Good news for Rockford is provided in a market study.  The Rockford HRA reviewed  the market study prepared by KWA & Associates on October 24, 2009. The primary focus o the study was to determine the feasibility of a grocery store in Rockford and if so the size, sales forecast, and potential sites.  The study shows that the city can support a 15,000 to 20,000 SF grocer at this time.   The market study suggest a grocer opening a store in September of 2010.  three sites selected in the study were: the Northwest corner of Hwy 55 and Co Rd 50, the Rockford Mall on the north side of Highway 55, and an undeveloped site on the south side along Highway 55 just west of Lone Oak Road.  

The second focus of the market study was to determine what retail potential there is in Rockford and to define categories and size. Retail need recommended up to 79,000 SF for categories suggested as follows: liquor,, pharmacy, dollar store, full service restaurant and coffeehouse with drive-thru.

Downtown Master Plan  

The city council reviewed the land use portion of the downtown Master Plan at their meeting held September 22, 2009.  This plan provides a long range plan for the redevelopment of the downtown.  A copy of the map is linked here.  The next step to the downtown master plan will include elevations that will bring properties out of the flood plain.  The city has already adopted design guidelines for development of the downtown which has been used in recent projects. map