North Branch 2027 project gets green light

The North Branch city street 2027 improvements package was approved to proceed on to final engineering review and be sent out for bids for next year, in action by the full council last week. 

Heidi Hamilton, WSB, also offered alternative projects that may or may not be included in the scope of the bidding, depending on how the pricing goes and if final agreements with a business owner located on an under-sized and unimproved city right of way, is completed.  

The city has budgeted for $750,000 but there’s potential should bids come in favorably; for paving 360th between Hemingway and Lincoln Parkway (one and a half mile) and asphalting a gravel section of Goodview, between the freeway and old 61.  The width will also be doubled from 12 to 24 feet if this is viable financially.

The for-sure projects which are budgeted for,  are in the neighborhood of Henna, Holm, Hillshire and 385th and there’s a reclaim and pave for the Eaglewood and 370th Street area.  Engineer Hamilton explained these locations have been rated highly as needing work based on the pavement condition tracking WSB maintains.

Council was advised the police department is working with potential partners in utilizing the old water and light offices’ square footage for interview space. 

The police department in the lower level of city hall is jam-packed and the chief said getting into the former water offices would relieve pressure on operations and possibly become a space for social services and child protection agencies to carry out investigations involving privacy.  (The garage portion facing Forest Boulevard was sold separately and is not part of this.)

Chief Dan Meyer also reported the department has revised scheduling with staff having been added the last several months —to be able to have two officers on duty all the time. 

Also, Sgt. Sapp has announced he plans to retire in 2027.

The city’s “public safety committee” consisting of reps for police and fire,  met. Council learned the firefighters have donated $10,000 towards holiday lighting. Two obsolete firefighting vehicles have been sold and the fire department is working on writing updated standard operating procedures with the city Human Resources director.  

Public Works head Matt Fraley mentioned that the new lighting contribution is greatly appreciated and said public works puts up 13,000 linear feet of light strings annually.  

Mayor Kevin Schieber read a proclamation into the record marking October as Manufacturing Month, adding that North Branch is home to 20 manufacturers.