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The North Branch City Council gave unanimous support to main action items on the agenda last week.  Council member Kathy Blomquist participated by phone, the rest of the council was in-chambers, seated at a distance from one another.

JJ’s got a 5-0 vote allowing an additional three months to get its liquor license in compliance.  

The governor’s stay at home executive order has thrown a wrench into the business owner’s efforts to lease grill space to a full service food operation or to sell the site outright.  He told council in a letter that he has people interested in buying the bar-bowling alley,  but the inability to open the bar/ restaurant and show it to buyers in operation is thwarting that process.  

JJ’s had been granted until April 27 to get the food service back up and running in an action by the city council to retain the liquor license.

Council last week granted a 90 day reprieve, beyond the expiring 60-day grace period, allowing the license to stay with the business until July.

Also on a 5-0 vote council supported fee reductions and other considerations for improving the economic viability of a senior housing project the city hopes to get developed, off Cherokee and 400th, near #30 (see graphic).

A collaboration with Central MN Housing Partnership and Minnesota Housing and Finance Agency is being forged to build 32 affordable units for age 55 and older, on city-owned property on the south end of the Interstate Business Park.

CMHP is projected to contribute $145,269 after fee and assessment considerations that the council expressed support for.  Total amount the public would forgo is $523,000.  The North Branch Water and Light Commission was slated to see a formal proposal to assist this project (reduce or eliminate water and electric access fees) at its April 21 regular meeting.
The project would receive high ranking by the agencies if there were accompanying letters of support with a pro-ject application.  

Carla Vita, North Branch Community Development Director, advises she is collecting these letters and will send them where they need to go.  Letters from people who would like to express reasons the North Branch community is supporting the project, can be sent to: City of North Branch, Community Development Director, 6408 Elm Street, P.O. Box 910 North Branch MN 55056.  The city ideally would like to have letters by end of this month,  first week in May.

Council tabled action establishing an organized set of animal regulations.  The code was disorganized and council reviewed wording and asked for clarification on the types of fowl being allowed to be kept.  Council member Joel McPherson suggested broadening the approved species to include quail, pheasants etc.  New wording will be back in front of the council as soon as possible.

Existing domestic animal regulations aren’t being changed. The ordinances in their re-organized structure are on the city website.

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