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North Branch Council set a date of May 9 for a public hearing on an economic development plan that includes acquiring two parcels near the old ShopKo building, graphic to left, and also designating a commercial business zone development district.  These are  additional economy enhancing tools, explained Community Development Director Ziemer.  While the public hearing will be the opportunity for information sharing, Ziemer commented that the parcels become more attractive to an investor when they can deal directly with North Branch instead of buying them through the tax forfeit process.

When Council member Peter Schaps asked about why the city wants to get into more land ownership, Ziemer replied the transition from city EDA-owned to privately owned will happen “expeditiously.”  Schaps said his hesitancy was due to the city “carrying the load” of vacant acres in the business park for years already.

None of the plan affects any status of existing properties in the development district and this is not related to Tax Increment Financing, Ziemer stated.

The mayor suggested everybody should give thought to questions they can pose at the public hearing May 9.

Mayor Scheiber also gave the formal summary of conclusions reached from the last closed city council session evaluating an employee’s performance and or complaint about the subject.  

The council had closed the session April 4 to discuss the  City Administrator. According to Schieber, that discussion resulted in council voting to work with the administrator, and this may include a workplace improvement plan and consultant.  Then, council called another closed session at the end of this April 11 council meeting, to again review Administrator Fry.  Under Minnesota Data Privacy statutes, she opted to have the session closed, which was honored.  

Updates from this are to be provided in the next regular meeting.

The Public Works Director got the okay to proceed on holding basins for stormwater control on Grand Avenue.  Shawn Williams said the city is partnering with the county Soil & Water Conservation District, which is providing $130,000 and the city contributes $50,000.

Williams said the project which is in/near the industrial park area on Grand, will be done this summer.

In the Parks Trails and Open Space department, Nate Sondrol announced the city got its MN Twins Fields for Kids grant and will apply this $7,000 to drainage improvements at Tower Field.  

The SHIP state heath improvement program is sending a grant of $10,631 to North Branch for a rapid flashing beacon at 381st and Grand Avenue to make the route to school safer.

PTOS Committee members have been made aware of resident wishes for a trail connection to the County Road 14 trail from the Lucht’s housing development.  Sonfrol said the city will look into this.  

And, the Harder Park disc golf course is being well-used.

An internet application “UDISC’ is part of an organization that can track uses and provides data on player standings in its league, etc.  Sondrol said the app reported 3,400 rounds were played at Harder Park last year and 554 individual players participated.

In one final announcement from Council member Robert Canada — the North Branch Fire Department smelt fry is May 6.

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