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Nearly all of last week’s North Branch City Council meeting was dedicated to discussing a possible Tax Increment Financing plan for a senior housing project, but council did give time to a proclamation marking this as the 100th year of the Midsummer Days celebration and declaring a week to honor local heroes.

Mayor Kevin Schieber read the statement declaring June 8th to the 14th as “Heroes Honor Week”. 

Schieber called Legion Post 85 commander Colonel Paul Johnson to the public microphone,  to comment on the proclamation. (See photo)  

Johnson said this is being formally entered into the record,  partly so the community doesn’t take the first responders and law enforcement and fire fighters for granted.  These “everyday heroes” are important to North Branch, Col Johnson added.

Midsummer Days is taking place June 17-21 and features community events, live music, kids’ activities and more,  all of which basically hosted by the Legion Post The Grande Parade is Sunday, starting at 2 p.m. on mainstreet (Hwy 95)  Watch the paper for details on the events. 

As for the Tax Increment Financing plan the council somewhat unenthusiastically directed staff to continue working with the developer to draft an agreement. 

Financing and planning will bring it forward for a public hearing.

Tax Increment Financing can be considered by some as a drain on municipal resources or an investment in the city;  and after an hour of debate about the senior housing the developer wants to apply the TIF to— council was split on support.

DBS Independent Senior Living is proposing a good development, everybody agreed on this aspect,   but the city council was concerned about the length of the TIF (which redirects tax revenues to help cover project expenses) and council was unsure if the full infrastructure buildout in the plan is necessary now or can be done later.

The project needs some form of cost reduction.  Even  if the TIF is not authorized there was discussion about options like eliminating park fees and the trunk water and sewer access charges,  and if this is  preferable.

The 107 units are part of a large tract development plan that involves property west of the Fairview Clinic and Jerry’s Market and south of Highway 95.  IF the developer can get a new intersection and road off Highway 95 it would improve access to the whole tract and lots throughout that area would be more attractive.

Council member Robert Canada and the mayor were sounding the most supportive. Council member Meacham saw value in  the project as a “catalyst” to get things rolling and said if the city does nothing there is no potential for  reward. Yet he agreed with the others who said this could be risky.

In other agenda items, council gave the bid to extend Fletcher Avenue and utilities northward into the industrial park,  to Gustafson Excavating.  Their low bid was $3,295,934.

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