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The chair of the North Branch Water & Light utility commission last week was awarded the job of developing a visual theme and  messaging package for the upcoming municipal utility referendum.  The proposal was the only professional services offer sought or received by the utility commission.

The relationship was authorized on a vote of 2-0.  

Two members were absent from the August 16 meeting (Folstad and Baxter) and Chair Keech recused himself as voting for his own contract is a conflict of interest—leaving only Phil Carlson and Patrick Meacham to decide on the paid advisor. By Minnesota law this must not include a no vote, as contracts can’t be entered into with an active member of a commission, board or council unless all agree.

(An added twist is normally a “quorum”  which is 3 of 5 members is required in order for action. Water & Light’s situation is considered generally acceptable however, due to the majority of the remaining members voting.  A quorum is how many are present to convene the meeting, not how many are voting, according to the School of Government Chapel Hill.)

Chair Nathan Keech offered up his business “Kreative HQ”  for various phases of getting the referendum word out. 

Voters in North Branch are going to the polls November 7 to decide if it’s time to abolish the actual Water & Light utility commission and transfer all of the water related assets and operations to the city.  North Branch  has long been responsible for wastewater services and sewer fees were rolled into the water bill, collected by the utility and disbursed back to the city;  water supplies came through the utility.

The “light” part, or power distribution assets of Water & Light were sold to East Central Energy. 

An outline of the tasks to be provided by Kreative HQ did not include a timeframe; but Keech said he’ll have  Phase One, which consists of the “look” or theme of the campaign and conceptual messaging— ready in a couple weeks.  After feedback from the commission, he’ll know better what the commission wants for Phase Two, which involves tactical materials.  Postcards could be ready to mail to voters by end of August, if the commission approves content, he told Commissioner Carlson when questioned.

Commissioners then approved $3,000 for Keech’s budget in this first phase. 

More costly video production and creating a website for the referendum campaign information were proposed, but laid aside for a while.  There will be heavy emphasis on social media outlets and digital outlets, according to Keech.

The utility commission is legally allowed to share “fact based” details but not to promote a yes or no vote.  Keech, however, told the two commissioners he is “personally” invested in seeing a yes vote prevail, but also assured campaign materials will be “neutral.”  

An array of important information is not yet available on outcomes of a yes or no vote.  Estimates on future operating costs and promised efficiencies in shifting water functions to the city and in having the city council oversee the utility if the commission is gone—have not been released.  

* Will there be different taxing districts for citizens who are city water consumers and benefit from the system being an enterprise fund within the city budget, versus rural residents who have private wells?

* What are the line items for the utility budget post takeover. 

* Possible revenues and expense for the five power generators nobody wanted to buy,  have not been spelled out.

 North Branch Finance Director Sharon Wright told the commission she is planning for a water rate analysis in the near future, but she’s been occupied catching up on entering electric revenue from before closing the sale to ECE.  She is also organizing spreadsheet formats in the wake of the former utility finance person being let go. (Story Aug 3 Press.)

As for the months long transitioning of electric operations to ECE,  city public works director Shawn Williams explained ECE is having “supply chain issues” to switch out power meters, so residents will again see North Branch staff taking the meter readings  for August.  ECE is to be billed for this service.

And, Williams announced the water main and rebuild project for Hwy 95 is now delayed until spring 2024.  MNDOT is looking over final plans and bids may go out to interested parties  this coming winter.

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