NB mayor reflects on first months in office

By Barbara Brown
When Gloria Karsky ran for mayor of North Branch last fall, she expected to hear a little grumbling about a woman taking the post.
But the past six months have proven the opposite and Karsky said overall she has found few complaints among residents and, in fact, has found a helping-hand attitude and willingness to work together.
Karsky, 50, is a life-long North Branch resident who graduated from North Branch High School.
She never really had aspirations to get into politics in particular, Karsky said during an hour-long interview in the council chambers at City Hall.
When the last election came around, however, she saw an opportunity to get some fresh, new ideas about the future of North Branch out in the open.
Although the city has had two female mayors in the past, Karsky has had to break into the role of city figurehead on her own. ìThey were good people, good role models,î Karsky said of Betty Heilig and Maxine Gregor.
ìIím enjoying the challenge,î she said. ìI felt I wanted to give the city someone who could bring some openness to the council meetings, someone whoís not afraid to ask questions.î
Taking an oath
Karsky said she wasnít nervous about starting as mayor. She said she stopped being nervous speaking up for herself about 10 years ago when she went into a car dealership and the salesman didnít want to sell her a car; only to talk to her then-husband.
Karsky demanded service and satisfaction and received it. Since then, she has spoken up for what she thinks is right.
Since taking her seat on the dais, Karsky said she has heard only one negative complaint about her administration.
She said after some discussion, the resident and Karsky agreed to disagree on issues, but left each otherís company with a mutual understanding and respect.
ìI think people feel Iím approachable,î Karsky said. ìPeople feel comfortable approaching me with their questions and concerns and comments regardless if I disagree strongly with their opinion.î
Karskyís opinions about North Branch and its future were relatively straight-forward during the campaign for office.
She wanted to see the Hwy. 95 bridge expansion pushed to the top of the state funding priority list. She wanted the city to take a more active role in developing affordable housing for the city, and she wanted the city to slow down its growth briefly to re-examine the situation and plan for 10 to 20 years into the future.
So far, Karsky has helped develop a resident-based city transportation committee which got area banks to post signs encouraging citizens to call City Hall if they were interested in helping with the push for bridge money. And toward the end of the legislative session Karsky testified before the state transportation committee seeking funding for the bridge.
The city also sanctioned a housing task force to not only investigate ways North Branch can encourage more affordable housing, but also how residential development would fit into the cityís future plan.
Decisions, decisions
Questions and conversation during council meetings have lengthened the meetings last from last yearís average of about an hour to nearly two hours per meeting this year.
But Karsky said those meetings are often the only chance a topic will come before the council and she wants to make sure everyone gets a chance to say what they want to say.
ìI encourage questions and concerns,î she said. ìMaybe thatís a difference between men and women. We (women) are not afraid to say we donít understand something or ask questions more.î
Staff members who have long tenures with the city find themselves in somewhat difficult situations every two years if new mayors are elected.
Karsky has made her transition a little easier for the staff as well as the public, said Al Cottingham, city planner.
ìItís a new beginning for all the staff when a new council comes on without having a lot of training or experience,î Cottingham said.
While the meetings may run a little longer than staff had been used to, Cottingham said that extra time is because the staff must back-up and explain more details about projects to the new council members.
ìMore questions is good,î Cottingham said. ìItís good from the staff perspective because sometimes the public doesnít always know what weíre talking about.
ìAnd when you get a mayor in there who likes to ask questions and get more explanation, it also helps the public.î
Making a good judgement is one of the most important responsibilities for the mayor.
ìThe most difficult part may be trying to stay informed enough to do a good job,î Karsky said, ìso the decisions made are good, informed decisions.î
City engineer Julie Dresel said Karskyís passion to help the city is evident.
ìSheís a very thoughtful mayor and she makes decisions based on a lot of research and asking a lot of questions,î Dresel said.
Growing up locally helps Karsky ask more in-depth questions, Dresel said.
ìShe understands the people here and how they have been dealing with growing. She asks questions, she will do research on whatís going on behind the scenes.î
As a member of the North Branch land use committee for one year and a previous member of the Branch Planning Commission, Karsky formed ideas about how the city should grow in the future and got a chance to hear how other residents see North Branchís expansion.
Although Karsky works in Minneapolis and has to battle commuter traffic each day, she finds a way to get to City Hall or call the staff every day.
ìThank goodness for e-mail, faxes and voice mail,î Karsky said. ìThe staff is very good at being flexible and communicating
ìIím in constant contact with them,î she said.
The mayor: in and out of office
For Karsky, it was not too difficult to ease into the role of mayor because of her career background.
Karsky is an attorney with TCF Bank and has some know-how on topics like finances, development and municipal projects.
ìItís real estate law and conflict resolution,î Karsky said of her job description. ìItís a fast-paced environment.î
Karsky not only keeps herself busy with the demands of leading a city, she keeps up with her two grown children and their plans, volunteers at Trinity Lutheran Church where she is a member and takes extra time out of her weeks to sit in on committee meetings so she wonít be caught off guard when a topic comes before the city council.
ìItís really gone fast,î Karsky said of her first six months in office. ìItís been a real learning experience.î

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