🌱 Potential Bike Lanes Removal + Massive Fire In Northwest Rochester

Good morning, friends. It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Rochester-Mason City Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Mostly cloudy and breezy. High: 52 Low: 37.
• Tuesday: Breezy with clouds and sun. High: 53 Low: 37.

Are you tired of blending in with all the other real estate agents in Rochester-Mason City? Stand out with a premium sponsorship in our newsletter. Gain valuable exposure for yourself to our highly engaged local readership. Click here to learn more about this exclusive opportunity.

Here are the top three stories in Rochester-Mason City today:

1. Several Rochester City Council members requested the removal of bike lanes downtown. Council member Shaun Palmer is leading the charge in Monday's meeting in considering bringing street parking back to support the small businesses in the community. Recent research has found that fewer than one percent of commuters use bikes. (KROC-AM)
2. There will be a public hearing held in Monday's City Council meeting for feedback on changing who has the authority to hire fire directors at the public library and the Parks and Recreation Department. Currently, the responsibility belongs to the Library and Parks board; the proposed shift will give the responsibility to the city's administrator. In order for this proposed change to happen, the board must vote unanimously. The decision can be made in either this meeting or postponed until the meeting on May 15. (Rochester Post Bulletin)
3. The Rochester and Oronoco Fire Departments worked together to extinguish a fire over the weekend in Northwest Rochester. Rochester received calls from a pole barn that was on fire at 6513 River Road Northwest and requested assistance from Oronoco due to the large amount of water needed to extinguish the blaze. There were no injuries reported in the incident but the pole barn was completely lost, the causes of the fire are still unknown. (KROC-AM)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Rochester-Mason City Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Rochester-Mason City Patch newsletter possible.

Today and tomorrow in Rochester-Mason City:

Monday, May 1

• Red Cross Blood Drive - Hosanna Lutheran Church (1:00 PM)
• Asian Brush Painting: Beginner And Continuing - 125 Live (2:00 PM)
• Story And Song Class - Caring Pregnancy Center (5:00 PM)

Tuesday, May 2

• Free Health Clinic - Mayo Clinic (5:00 PM)
• Family Storytime And Literacy Activities - Rochester Public Library (6:00 PM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

Do you know an incredible mom you'd like the rest of Rochester-Mason City to know about, too? Maybe it's your mom — or your daughter, a friend who's a mom or someone who steps up like a mom for the people in her life. Whoever it is, we want to hear about her! Just fill out this simple form and we'll do the rest.

From my notebook:

• Rochester's Police Department worked with Elton Elementary School and Longfellow 45-15 to have some fun with a Cops & Kids Community Bike event. Officers helped tune up bikes, secure kids' helmets, and go for some nice group rides! (City of Rochester, MN Police Department via Facebook)
• Fresh Air Fitness is back bringing free outdoor fitness classes this coming weekend! Starting May 6 at 10 a.m. and every Saturday in May, June, and September, you can get a workout in at Peace Plaza. (Downtown Rochester Minnesota via Facebook)
• Need to learn more about property taxes? Here is an in-depth video from the Mason City government that may answer some questions you may have. (City of Mason City Government via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Monday. I'll see you soon!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.