---

The North Branch Northwest Old Town area projects— that have been on and off the work plan for over 20 years; and recently put on the back burner again, will see some more research done and a couple property owner meetings will be held in coming weeks.

The full North Branch city council okayed a “design services contract” last week with consulting engineers. The firm will assemble some desired extra detail and coordinate meetings. The contract is approximately $71,000.  There is an expected report promised by the end of this summer.

Council had asked for the work to be delayed until 2027;  based on input from the public and council concerns recently brought to the table.  

The sewer line will be newly-televised (inspected) for any concurrent work do-able as part of road repairs and improvements.

Meanwhile, another proposal needing a number of ducks put in-a-row is advancing.  

The building materials giant Louisiana Pacific wishes to buy a 120 acre lot in the North Branch Interstate Business Park (formerly called ESSBY) and numerous city actions are needed to lay the groundwork for this important plan.  

Council last week approved the Conditional Use Permit for outdoor storage layout and a plan for new lot lines inside the industrial park plat.  

It was also necessary to take a vote vacating the right of way to re-align and extend Fletcher Avenue to accommodate the massive production plant.

Storage consists of stacked inventory such as siding, up to 16 feet in height. A rail spur is anticipated to transport goods, and the company said shipping will be day shifts only and Monday to Friday.  Fletcher Avenue will be extended from 400th to 410th on a new city easement, which council unanimously agreed to vacate.  Community Development Director Nate Sondrol added that the new plat creates some smaller more-marketable lots.

There was a public hearing and one citizen asked if Louisiana Pacific is the requester and was told it is.  He remarked he was just “curious’ adding that not a lot of people are aware of this pending project.

Sondrol responded the property is zoned industrial and guided for this type of use and that multiple public hearings have been posted in the legal paper, the STAR. Public hearings are also on the city website under public notices.

In other matters:

~ Tailgaters was approved for a bingo event for the Northwest Area Jaycees, April 19.

~ The issuance and future sale of $3.2 million in bonds to borrow money for equipment were approved 5-0. The award of a bid is scheduled for March 25 by council.

~ Applicant Samuel Herzog wanted council consensus behind a Tax Increment Financing plan for an apartments complex and council was not thrilled.

Mayor Kevin Schieber remarked the project, at 236,  is "a lot" of apartments for that area east of Falcon at 382nd Drive.  The design originally came before council as a mixed single family house/apartment neighborhood.  The special TIF financing also was not supported.  Ehlers, public financing advisors,  were seeking direction from council on further exploration of the package which council basically rejected.

The council presented a plaque in appreciation to former public works director Gary Schaefer, from 1981 to 2005.  He also is a longtime citizen servant and gave guidance and his time on planning and other boards and commissions.

---