April 7, 2023 at 11:33 a.m.
North Branch Council adopts investigation contract terms on 3-2 vote
The council had never made an official “declaration” on if elected persons’ information arising from processing a complaint would be handled as public or private. If council had deemed themselves “personnel” then complaints and related materials would be confidential under Minnesota public employee privacy statutes.
The council, however, voted 5-0 last week to be non-personnel. (Robert Canada participated remotely.)
In a somewhat relevant issue— council heard from the firm providing an independent investigation on a complaint.
The council had authorized a workplace-centered investigation with focus on the city administrator, back in January (action was reviewed in closed session) The contract from Herreid and Associates, in Afton, MN, came to council last week to finalize the scope and fees.
Council member Kelly Neider complained that she hasn’t been kept apprised of this investigation and she has “no idea’ what point it’s reached. She also complained about the cost, which in this phase of the contract was not to exceed $15,000. Neider included this with the $20,000 earlier appropriated, she said comes to a total of $36,000 and felt the city’s budget was taking a big hit.
The mayor responded that it was Neider and Council member Peter Schaps who initiated this investigation with their complaint.
City staff notified council at this point that the investigation wrap-up is expected April 5 and a special meeting (closed again) was tentatively set for 5 p.m. to accept the report and consider allegations against individual(s) subject to city council authority.
The Herreid and Association contract was adopted 3-2 with Neider and Schaps opposed.
Council member Canada and Mayor Scheiber volunteered to sit on a referendum transition committee to meet on an “as-needed” basis.
Residents will apparently be asked in the future to vote on dissolving the Water & Light utility commission.
The municipal electric distribution holdings have already been sold and water division employees are now part of city public works staff. The independent utility office closed and administrative activities were moved to city hall.
No details about the transition committee were announced and no goal date for the referendum was shared.
In open microphone a resident spoke on a civil matter connected to a property line dispute he has with solar power array companies in the area of Keystone Avenue, south of town. He said he was asking if council had ‘any objection’ to his plan to hire a surveyor to locate the center of the road.
Council was advised by the city administrator the parties are aware this is a civil matter not under North Branch’s purview.
Upcoming actions
There is a planning commission meeting tonight (April 6) to review the comprehensive plan as it relates to the new annexation area on 360th. North Branch and Lent Township agreed to move 1,100 acres into the city. Zoning and permissible land uses need to be formalized.
April 20 is the city Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting at city hall council chambers, at 6 p.m. This is an annual session where landowners can contest valuations for the following year’s property tax payments. You need to first see if any issues can be resolved with county assessor staff, call 213-8055. Values may be adjusted administratively for many reasons.
If unsatisfied, then call the city where the property lies, In this case—North Branch call 651-277-5228, and make a reservation about a week before, to get a time slot on the Board of Appeal and Equalization agenda.
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