Pinsonneault resigning
North Branch Council seeks applicants for interim mayor
By Barbara Brown The North Branch City Council sat refusing to make a motion Monday night. Council members did not want to accept the resignation of Mayor John Pinsonneault. Pinsonneault announced his resignation from the mayoral post for the city just before the close of Monday nightís regular council meeting. He said a job transfer has forced him to move to northern Minnesota. ìIt is with much regret that Iím going to have to relinquish my seat.î After a couple of minutes, and two requests for a motion, Councilman Rodney Lofquist made the motion ìwith regretsî to accept the mayorís resignation. Pinsonneaultís resignation becomes effective April 15. State law requires that any council position be filled by appointment until an election can be held.
Eligible applicants must be at least 21 and allowed to vote. Letters of application, along with a resume, are due by April 12. The council is expected to appoint the interim mayor at a special meeting April 15. Also at the council meeting, a couple of residents spoke out against putting a city-owned skateboarding park near the city golf course. One man, who frequently uses the course in the spring, summer and fall, said carts that are stored near the proposed park site could be temptations for vandals. He also wondered if the youth would be using the course club house for bathrooms and to take relief from summer heat in the air conditioning. One Oak Street resident, whose property would be near the proposed park, said he wanted the park somewhere else where ìit would be less apt to bother people.î The homeowner said he feared his property would be devalued if any kind of fencing were put up around the park. Councilman John Pace said he would take a suggestion that the parks commission look at putting the skate park in River Walk Park back to the commission for discussion. He said some safety concerns may arise because of the riverís presence at the park, but that he still would offer the suggestion. The council will hold a special meeting April 1 to award the contract to construct the cityís new fire hall. The leading bidder as of March 22 was Rochon Corp. with a bid of $1.013 million. With additional special features, the Rochon Corp. bid would climb to $1.07 million. The next lowest bidder is The Builders, with a low bid of $1.072 million and a special features bid of $1.116 million. The council announced it would start a community center committee to discuss what a community center in North Branch would contain. Anyone interested is allowed to join the committee. Call 651-674-8113 for information.
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