Four properties assessed on Grand Avenue project

By Barbara Brown
The city council received a preliminary list of property assessments for the water and sewer improvement project along Grand Avenue.
Only four properties will be charged assessments because after independent appraisals, those properties were determined to have received a benefit from the construction, said Julie Dresel, city engineer.
Dresel told the council that although 13 properties were affected by the construction only four would be charged assessments because the other properties already had city water and sewer services.
Little Sweden, 6849 St. Croix Trail; North Branch school district property, 6644 Main Street, Richard and Phyllis Alvin, 38861 Grand Ave., and an empty lot at 38234 Great Oaks Court, owned by Patricia and Michael Marfiz and Keith and Katheryn Hals will be charged.
The greatest portion of the preliminary assessments will be borne by the school district with an assessment at $68,285.
The Alvins may face an assessment of $14,992, the Great Oaks Court property may see a $13,749 assessment and Little Sweden may be assessed $12,138.
The remainder of the cost for the project was paid from the cityís sanitary sewer and water trunk funds, the storm water utility fund and municipal state aid.
All the property owners, whether they are to be assessed or not, will receive notices of the assessment hearing set for Nov. 12.
The council also ordered staff to send letters to commercial property owners reminding them that they are responsible for the maintenance and repair of the sidewalks around their properties.
Residential sidewalk repairs are to be done throughout the city as need and funding arise.
Also during the meeting, council officials signed for receipt of a grant that will pay the salary for a North Branch police officer to work for the next three years in the schools.
The council also received a letter from the Minnesota Department of Health that stated the cityís water supply is in the 90th percentile of lead and copper levels. The departmentís letter reported that the cityís water, tested three times a year, is safe.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com