Richfield Receives Two Awards for Good Practices

The City of Richfield recently received two awards for its efforts at improving the city. The Richfield City Council presented videos of the award presentations and staff detailed Tuesday night.

The following details the significance of the awards:

2011 Wellness By Design Award

Richfield was one of 81 worksites  and 31 schools chosen for the 2011 Wellness By Design Award.

The awards honor “organizations that, through policy and environmental changes, provide employees and students the kinds of nutritional and physical activity choices and opportunities that can reduce the high rate of overweight and obesity, create healthier environments for learning and reduce chronic disease,” the Hennepin County website said.

After the video was shown, City Manager Steve Devich joked, “[After seeing that], I need to drop 10 pounds.”

Richfield has received the award for the last six years, which is also every year the award has been in existence.

2011 Xcel Energy Case Study for Motor Efficiency Award

Richfield received the 2011 Xcel Energy Case Study Motor Efficiency Award after saving 300,000 kWh of energy in 2010 by installing a VFD (variable frequency drive) to various water pumps in water wells.

By putting a “dimmer switch,” as Public Works Director Mike Eastling called it, on the pumps, the pumps slowly turn on saving lots of energy.”

Richfield has seven wells throughout the city.

In other business:

• All consent calendar items were approved;
• A resident expressed her concern for the city’s consideration of a bandshell facility;
• All members shared in thanking volunteers and sponsors of the .