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The North Branch City Council has put the idea of reinstituting a municipal primary vote to bed. The matter was submitted for consideration by Council member Peter Schaps, who along with Council member Kelly Neider, supports re-establishing the primary. He stated, “I’d like to see it come back.”  

Last week was the third discussion held on the topic and the vote was 3-2 to deny the ordinance calling for a primary.  It was announced the primary had been eliminated by council vote in 2014.

Mayor Kevin Scheiber said he didn’t think anybody in North Branch is clamoring to draw-out the campaign season even longer, which he feels a primary does.  You file ahead of the August primary vote, then continue to campaign if you clear the primary, until the November general election which drags out the whole time commitment, etc. 

He also stated changes to any election related rules or standards should be done in a non-election year.

There are not so many people running for office in North Branch that a primary is needed to narrow the field, council members agreed.  Member Travis Miles questioned if the city elections clerk would be affected in doing her workload and was assured she can handle paperwork for a primary if necessary.

Neider said she supports the primary because it focuses voting onto candidates who are more ideal choices and gets rid of people who “don’t knock on doors or put up signs” and who,  in her opinion are less dedicated and less serious, about serving the city. 

In the other main business for the meeting— an engineer consultant with WSB presented the update on the Alternative Urban Areawide Review.   

North Branch has implemented this tool for the Interstate business park due to its size (390 acres) and its potential for environmental impacts when developed.  

The AUAR is looked at every five years to see if it still complies with local plans for the area and with accepted permitting and land use standards.

Jason Ziemer, city interim administrator, advised council that having an AUAR makes the business park more appealing to would be developers.  The North Branch EDA also will get the presentation and have a chance for input.

Council voted to adopt the review. 

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