Website Use Agreement, Policies and Disclaimers

Terms and conditions

You hereby acknowledge that by using this website you agree that you have read, understand and accept all of the following: 

General disclaimer

The City of Northfield (“City”) has endeavored to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on its website, including all sites and modules on the City’s website. However, due to the possibility of unauthorized modification of the data, transmission errors, HTML browser incompatibilities, human error, changes made since the last update to the website or other aspects of electronic communication that are beyond the City's control, the City does not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided on its website and is not liable for reliance on this information.

Please contact the City of Northfield at 507-645-3077 to report inaccuracies of the data.

In addition, the purpose of any interactive modules on the website is to obtain suggestions, ideas, and feedback to benefit our community. Personal attacks, slurs, obscene, and profane language in your interactions will not be allowed and such postings or any other posting in violation of these disclaimers and policies will be removed from the website at the discretion and in the judgment of City administration. Please make sure that your postings are relevant to the subject at hand. The sites and modules on this website, if any, provide only a limited public forum for the purpose stated in the module and are expressly subject to all the limitations, policies and disclaimers contained herein.  It is normal and expected for some topics to drift from the stated subject. However, to ensure maximum benefit for all of our users, we encourage you to keep your postings as close to the subject as possible. Impersonating a government employee or anther user is not allowed. We do not allow behavior or content related to illegal activities. Do not post or promote any materials that could SPAM, harm, or disrupt another user’s computer.

You acknowledge 

  1. That this website may not be uninterrupted or error-free; 
  2. That viruses or other harmful applications may be available through this website;
  3. That the City does not guarantee the security of this website and that unauthorized third parties may access your computer or files or otherwise monitor your connection;
  4. That the City may terminate the sites and modules on this website or your use of the sites and modules on this website at any time at its sole discretion without notice;
  5. That the City shall not be responsible for any loss or corruption of your data or information that may occur due to your use of the sites and modules on this website or the termination of the same;
  6. That users of the sites and modules on this website have no expectation of privacy;
  7. That your use of the sites and modules on this website may be monitored for violations of this Agreement and illegal activity prosecuted to the full extent of the law;
  8. That the City's and its host’s ability to provide the sites and modules on this website without charge is based on the limited warranty, disclaimer and limitation of liability specified herein. The sites and modules on this website and any products or services provided on or in connection with the sites and modules on this website are provided on an "AS IS," "AS AVAILABLE" basis without warranties of any kind. All warranties, conditions, representations, indemnities and guarantees with respect to the content or service and the operation, capacity, speed, functionality, qualifications, or capabilities of the services, goods or personnel resources provided hereunder, whether express or implied, arising by law, custom, prior oral or written statements by the City, or otherwise (including, but not limited to any warranty of satisfactory quality, merchantability, fitness for particular purpose, title and non-infringement) are hereby overridden, excluded and disclaimed.

You expressly agree to all of the policies and disclaimers contained herein by using this website.

Other disclaimers

This website and any sites and modules on this website are provided on an 'as is' basis without any warranties of any kind, express or implied. This website, to the fullest extent permitted by law, disclaims all warranties, including, but not limited to, the warranties of merchantability, title, non-infringement of third parties’ rights, and fitness for particular purpose. This website makes no warranties about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the sites or modules. Without limitation on the foregoing:

  1. This website does not warrant that the sites or modules will operate error-free or that the sites, modules and their servers are free of computer viruses or other harmful mechanisms. If your use of the sites or modules results directly or indirectly in the need for servicing or replacing equipment or data, this website is not responsible for those costs or any liability related thereto.
  2. This website makes no representations or guarantees regarding the truthfulness, accuracy, legality, completeness, timeliness or reliability of any documents posted by users, or of any other form of communication engaged in by users. Documents may contain inaccuracies or typographical errors. You agree that any reliance on documents posted by users, or on any other form of communication with users, will be at your own risk.
  3. This website makes no representations or guarantees regarding the content of the sites or modules, including, but not limited to, broken links, inaccuracies or typographical errors.
  4. As it pertains to employment or employment related matters, this website makes no representations or guarantees regarding the effectiveness of the services or timeliness of the services in meeting your employment objectives. This website does not guarantee that the services will result in candidates for employment being hired, positions being filled or employees being retained, and is not responsible or liable for any business, employment, hiring and/or salary decisions, for whatever reason made, made by you.
  5. In order to provide the user with information about services, programs, and activities in the City, the website may contain links to other websites that are not owned, regularly reviewed or controlled by the City. It is the policy of the City to limit these links to nonprofit, government or for-profit websites that support the City's revenues or provide information relevant to the functions and services provided by the City. The City's website does not provide direct links to external sites that are strictly commercial, political or religious in nature. The City's website is expressly not intended to function as a public forum. The provision of these links should not be construed as an endorsement or sponsorship of these external websites, their content or their hosts.
  6. The City specifically disavows legal responsibility for what a user may find on another site, or for the personal opinions of individuals posted on any site, whether or not operated by the City. The views and opinions of the authors of documents published on or linked to the City's website do not necessarily state or reflect the opinion, policy or position of the City.
  7. The City is not responsible for the content, quality, accuracy or completeness of any off-site materials referenced or linked through the City's website. By using the City's website, the user acknowledges and accepts that the City is not responsible for any materials provided on other websites, nor is it liable for any inaccurate, defamatory, offensive or illegal materials found on other websites, and that the risk of injury or damage from viewing, hearing, downloading or storing such materials rests entirely with the user.

You expressly agree to all of the policies and disclaimers contained herein by using this website.

Prohibited uses

The following activities are expressly prohibited when using the sites and modules on this website:

Spamming and invasion of privacy

Sending of unsolicited bulk and/or commercial messages over the Internet using the sites and modules on this website or using the sites and modules on this website for activities that invade another's privacy.

Intellectual property right violations

Engaging in any activity that infringes or misappropriates the intellectual property rights of others, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade secrets, or any other proprietary right of any third party.

Obscene or indecent speech or materials

Using the sites and modules on this website to advertise, solicit, transmit, store, post, display, or otherwise make available obscene or indecent images or other materials. The City will notify and fully cooperate with law enforcement if it becomes aware of any use of the sites and modules on this website in any connection with child pornography or the solicitation of sex with minors.

Defamatory or abusive language

Using the sites and modules on this website to transmit, post, upload, or otherwise make available defamatory, harassing, abusive, or threatening material or language that encourages bodily harm, destruction of property or harasses another.

Forging of headers

Forging or misrepresenting message headers, whether in whole or in part, to mask the originator of the message.

Hacking

Accessing illegally or without authorization computers, accounts, equipment or networks belonging to another party, or attempting to penetrate security measures of another system. This includes any activity that may be used as a precursor to an attempted system penetration, including, but not limited to, port scans, stealth scans, or other information gathering activity.

Distribution of internet viruses, trojan horses, or other destructive activities

Distributing information regarding the creation of and sending Internet viruses, worms, Trojan Horses, pinging, flooding, mail bombing, or denial of service attacks. Also, activities that disrupt the use of or interfere with the ability of others to effectively use the node or any connected network, system, service, or equipment.

Facilitating a violation of this agreement of use

Advertising, transmitting, or otherwise making available any software product, product, or service that is designed to violate this Agreement, which includes the facilitation of the means to spam, initiation of pinging, flooding, mail bombing, denial of service attacks, and piracy of software.

Export control violations

The transfer of technology, software, or other materials in violation of applicable export laws and regulations, including but not limited to the U.S. Export Administration Regulations and Executive Orders.

Other illegal activities

Using the sites and modules on this website in violation of applicable laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, advertising, transmitting, or otherwise making available Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, fraudulently charging credit cards, pirating software, or making fraudulent offers to sell or buy products, items, or services.

Resale

The sale, transfer, or rental of the sites and modules on this website to customers, clients or other third parties, either directly or as part of a service or product created for resale.

You expressly agree to all of the policies and disclaimers contained herein by using this website.

User authentication

Because user authentication on the Internet is difficult, this website cannot and does not confirm that each User is who they claim to be. Because this website does not and cannot be involved in User-to-User dealings or control the behavior of participants/users of or on the web, sites, Sites, or modules, in the event that you have a dispute with one or more Users, you release this website from any claims, demands and damages (actual and consequential and direct and indirect) of every kind and nature, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way connected with such disputes.

You expressly agree to all of the policies and disclaimers contained herein by using this website.

Notices to the City

Communication made through email or any other computer messaging system including this website or any modules shall in no way be deemed to constitute legal notice to the City or any of its departments, officers, employees, agents or representatives with respect to any existing or potential claim or cause of action.

Jurisdiction

The materials provided on this website are intended for public use on computer systems located primarily within the City of Northfield, Minnesota, and for the benefit of residents and visitors to this City. Any person choosing to use this website or seeking access to information or materials on this system is agreeing to be subject to Minnesota jurisdiction. Any dispute arising therefrom shall be decided under the laws and in the courts of Minnesota.

ADA statement

The City of Northfield complies with all applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodation will be provided to allow individuals with disabilities to participate in all City of Northfield services, programs, and activities. The City has designated coordinators to facilitate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and to coordinate compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations. For information, contact Communications and Human Resources Director at 507-645-3012.

Reservation of rights

The City reserves the right to take the following actions:

  • Deny content, links, or any material on the website that do not meet the criteria set forth in this policy.
  • Require immediate removal of any content, external link, or any other material on the website that provides or promotes false, defamatory, illegal, infringing or incorrect information or if the nature of the organization to which the link or content relates to no longer complies with the City’s policy.
  • Revise, change, modify, add or remove any portions of this policy at any time, including removal of any links or content, without prior notice. Please check this page periodically for changes.

No consequential damages

Under no circumstances will the City, its hosts, suppliers or licensors, or respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates be liable for consequential, indirect, special, punitive or incidental damages or lost profits, whether foreseeable or unforeseeable, based on claims of a user, a user’s appointees, or a user’s customers (including, but not limited to, unauthorized access, damage, or theft of your system or data, claims for loss of goodwill, claims for loss of data, use of or reliance on the service, stoppage of other work or impairment of other assets, or damage caused to equipment or programs from any virus or other harmful application), arising out of breach or failure of express or implied warranty, breach of contract, misrepresentation, negligence, strict liability in tort or otherwise. 

Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the City, its hosts, and its and their suppliers and licensors, officers, directors, employees, agents and affiliates from any claim, liability, loss, damage, cost, or expense (including without limitation reasonable attorney's fees) arising out of or related to your use of the sites and modules on this website, any materials downloaded or uploaded through the sites and modules on this website, any actions taken by you in connection with your use of the sites and modules on this website, any violation of any third party's rights, any violation of law or regulation, or any breach of this Agreement. This paragraph will not be construed to limit or exclude any other claims or remedies that the City may assert under this Agreement or by law.

Interpretation

This Agreement shall not be construed as creating a partnership, joint venture, agency relationship or granting a franchise between the parties. This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with Minnesota law, excluding its conflict of law principles. Except as otherwise provided above, any waiver, amendment or other modification of this Agreement will not be effective unless in writing and signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable, in whole or in part, such holding will not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Agreement. The City's performance of this Agreement is subject to existing laws and legal process, and nothing contained in this Agreement shall waive or impede the City's right to comply with law enforcement requests or requirements relating to your use of the sites and modules on this website or information provided to or gathered by the City with respect to such use. This Agreement constitutes the complete and entire statement of all terms, conditions and representations of the Agreement between you and the City with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior writings or understanding.

Acceptance of policies and disclaimers

The use of this website signifies your acceptance of the above policies and disclaimers contained herein. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not use or access this website. 

You hereby acknowledge that by using this website you agree that you have read, understand and accept all of the foregoing policies and disclaimers.