Posted 6/22/01 North Branch Council hires new police officer By Jason Sileo It was more or less all quiet on the councilís front as the North Branch City Council ripped through its agenda in about 45 minutes June 11 without a hint of controversy nor of a troubling decision. The city approved the hiring of Scott Fitzgerald to the North Branch Police Department. Fitzgerald, of Lindstrom, is currently employed by the Chisago County Sheriffís Department but will arrive for duty in North Branch shortly. Fitzgerald ìinterviewed real well,î said North Branch Mayor John Pinsonneault. ìHe has good experience... a real good candidate.î City Administrator John Moosey said Fitzgerald had been ìreal impressiveî during the interviewing process, set in motion to find a replacement for the outgoing Mary McCarthy. ìHeís qualified but also a very good person... a very good addition to our staff.î Moosey said of Fitzgerald. The council approved a number of pay requests for completed construction projects throughout the city, as well as a proposal to authorize sale of $480,000 in bonds for improvements at the cityís Char Croft addition. Jay Kennedy of WSB & Associates gave a brief report on a water drainage study conducted for the Gateway development area off I-35 in North Branch. Kennedy said the study brought a couple of drainage issues to light with concern to the development area, including ìa few primary improvements that are going to be necessary.î Proposed improvements include new ponding areas, a new culvert and some additional drainage outlets in the area, all of which would alleviate some ìflooding concerns which need to be addressed,î Kennedy said. Costs for the required work were estimated in the area of $320,000. Plans must be formulated and forwarded to the Minnesota Department of Transportation before any work can be initiated, Kennedy said. Kennedy said, for the moment, ìthe most important thing to do is to get Mn/DOTís approval of the plan.î ©Post Review