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A complaint directed at North Branch Council member Kelly Neider filed in late March is going to be heard in an open hearing Wednesday May 24, at city hall at 6 p.m.  City council met in special session May 8 and determined, with Council member Peter Schaps opposed, and Neider not voting, that at least one of the complaints meets the standards for a code of conduct violation the city council adheres to and the hearing date was set.

There won’t be debate or discussion about the matter until May 24, council was reminded.

Then, May 9, council met in regular session. The main topic was a hearing on the proposed development district and to approve the city’s intention to purchase two lots in the northwest quadrant the freeway interchange that have been tax forfeit listed.

Development Director Jason Ziemer explained the designation of a development district is just an economic tool.  It won’t impact current zoning and it depicts a certain area the city anticipates will grow as a commerce based use.  The city can more easily leverage outside funding to facilitate projects and “access financial resources,” Ziemer explained.

As for the two lots (story in Press April April 20) the city plans to acquire them and sell them acting as a conduit between the state/county owed the taxes and the developer almost simultaneously. Ziemer said this shouldn’t cost the city anything when all is finalized. Possible acquisition costs and the sale revenues were not shared.

The district was established and the intent to purchase notice alerting Chisago County that the city is interested were both approved 5-0.

Council okayed an on-call pay system for four generator operators. The contract that requires the city to be able to respond to on-demand electric generation as part of SMMPA, means the city has to be able to staff that response possibility 24/7.  There are four people in public works who are trained for this. The pay comes through the Water &  Light budget.  

East Central Energy bought the Water & Light’s electric distribution system but the municipal generators remain under city control and operations are tied to a long term contract with SMMPA, a power agency that does not serve ECE.  Electric power distributed by ECE is supplied by Great River Energy. 

Council approved using ARPA federal recovery funds for a new communications tower, to be erected at Tower Park,  which will house city communications equipment, according to meeting materials.  However, Genesis Wireless will be responsible for maintenance and installation of equipment on the tower.  The tower itself is $75,000.  

North Branch also used $400,000 in the first covid-19 aid package CARES Act to install a scattering of towers to facilitate a wireless Internet system that is now a Genesis Wireless enterprise.

On the issue of the recent retail sales in Central Park, the mayor said he got lots of calls and many were upset it took more than a day to address the display. He added “we are working on this.”  He said the vendor stepped outside of the accepted process and city staff and others are looking to eliminate loopholes.

The items displayed for sale were political in nature and contained obscenities and vulgar language.  The Press (story May 4) checked on the vendor permit which is required under city ordinance and City Administrator Renae Fry said the vendor skirted permit requirements saying the sales were for a non-profit.

The idea now is to write new ordinance language that any activity on city owned land will be under a special event permit and the event will need to be tied to a city organization or cause.

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