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North Branch City Council gave the green light to constructing a storage building at the public works facility and the city will use the proceeds from the sale of the old ambulance garage on Highway 61 and Maple Street to pay for the project.  The building is for sale and expected to generate over $300,000.  It was used by water and light utility operations most recently, but now is used for storage. 

Shawn Williams, Public Works Director, said there’s been interest in the property but people want to view it emptied.  The items being kept there will go to the new public works storage location.  Williams also noted that if the building is cleaned out the next owner can move in much faster.        

Council told the staff unanimously to proceed on the plan and do an interfund loan of $365,000 maximum to get the new structure underway.

Williams noted for council information the reconstruction of the intersection at 392nd and Highway 95 “is close.”  The state is funding the project which will widen the road, add a center left/right turn lane (stop signs remain on the side street) and put in some overhead lighting and a stormwater pond.

The MNDOT timeframe for this intersection shows it starting in late March and completion by August.

A couple of tax forfeited parcels were purchased by North Branch a couple years ago, under advice of a former finance director who recommended acquiring the lots for resale.

There has been a hold on the sale activity while an interested developer works with a purchaser, but this developer asked for a fourth extension on the agreement with the city. The city was freezing any further marketing, firmed up by accepting large earnest payments totaling $75,000 — but the agreement was set to expire March 15.

The Sunrise River Commons property investors asked council for an “amendment’ to the purchase agreement with a new extension to April 29.

City council members were becoming a little concerned about delays in finalizing a lease facilitating the middle man to buy these lots.  There were more questions about whether the earnest money was refundable or not.  The city attorney advised he was working with the parties on issues.

It was decided the council would meet March 15 in special session to act based on final wording for this contract.  At this special meeting it was agreed to extend the agreement deadline by 45 days.  Council member Peter Schaps was absent and Robert Canada participated on-line.

The special session also ended up being handy for the council to discuss how to go about filling a newly vacant council seat.  

Travis Miles was hired last week on a 4-0 vote to fill the Human Resources Generalist position.  City Administrator Matthew Hill said Miles was by far the favorite candidate of 27 who applied and seven who participated in interviewing.

Miles has several years’ work background in this field and submitted his elected position resignation which was accepted by the city council in order to accept this new post.

Council will accept applications to be appointed to fill the Miles vacancy, with a deadline to apply of March 28.  The council will do interviews April 4 and the action on appointment is set for April 8.

And, the Chief of Police performed swearing-in of the newest Officer Trey Garrett, to begin actively serving and also got approval 5-0 by city council to hire Kendra Rock, who comes to North Branch from the state patrol. She will start as soon as possible.

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