News Briefs

Volunteers in Harris will go door-to-door in the platted areas of the city April 21 to conduct an income survey which is necessary for the city to apply for grants to improve the water and sewer systems. Residents completing a second income survey through Chisago County may be eligible to receive grant money to make repairs on their homes.

The City of North Branch will hold a public hearing just before the beginning of its regularly scheduled April 28 meeting on ìminor changes to the cityís tax abatement policyî which will go into effect before May 1 by state law.

The North Branch Police Department released 2002 year-end statistics for reported crimes. For crimes labeled Part I and Part II, results were as follows: assault, 63; burglary, 29; criminal sexual conduct, 46; drugs, 30; driving while intoxicated, 67, juvenile, 70; property damage, 58; disturbing the peace, 48; theft, 218; bad checks and fraud, 122; vehicle theft, 28;weapons, 6; other, 28. For traffic violations: driving after cancelation, 102; parking violations, 23; driving complaints, 55; speeding, 104; stop arm violations, 65; license or insurance problems, 60; ATV or snowmobile violations, 45; driving while impaired complaints, 53; other, 19.
General call complaints were classified as follows: accidents, 181; animal, 290; fire or gas leaks, 75; medical, 220; public assistance, 605; domestic, 109; motorist assist, 267; juvenile complaints, 250; disturbance, 258; suspicious activity, 191; vandalism or theft, 134; alarms, 408; suicide attempt, 17; assist other agencies, 264; information, 71; other, 60. Total number of calls was 4,680.

The Stacy council voted April 8 to increase the water and sewer rates for the city. The cityís sewer rate will increase to $36 per quarter and the volume rate will go up by 5 cents per 1,000 gallons to $1.10.
The city raised the water rates from $15 per quarter to $30 per quarter for residential for the first 10,000 gallons. Heavy commercial rates increased from $105 per quarter to $140 per quarter and light commercial went up from $37.50 to $50 per quarter. Each classification would pay a higher volume charge also, up from $1 per 1,000 to $2.45 per 1,000.
The new charges go into effect April 17 and will be used to calculate customersí April bills.

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