Posted: 4/28/04
By MaryHelen Swanson
The new library in North Branch will go on the site south of the fire hall. Thatís final.
On Monday night, April 26, the city council approved both the preliminary and final plats for the 30-acre Williams Addition which includes the fire hall site, the library site and 3 outlots for future uses.
The city has incurred $7,000 in architectural costs to prepare the library building for the south site. Originally a site north of the fire hall was accepted. Some $4,500 has been spent in engineering fees for the south site also. The city is prepared to cover these costs.
Mayor Gloria Karsky asked what other costs the city will incur as the new library is built. City Administrator Joe Lynch said he didnít know exactly what the county will ask the city to pay for at this time.
Lynch did note there was a $2,500 cost for soil borings which he did not feel the city should have to pay. Council members Rodney Lofquist and Amy Oehlers agreed with him.
The council also approved a resolution conveying the library site to the Chisago County Housing and Redevelopment Authority/Economic Development Authority which will issues bonds on behalf of the county for construction of the library building.
The county will own and operate the library, the city will maintain it by the approved agreement.
North Branch will be a part of a joint powers agreement that also includes the city of Wyoming, the Chisago Lakes Regional Library Commission, Chisago County and the HRA/EDA.
In other business, the council:
ï Approved a conditional use permit for the installation of a well and well house in a R1 single-family district in Wildridge Plat 3 by the North Branch Water and Light department.
The well house, which will have a two-tone brick exterior, will be 24ífeet by 30-feet in size;
ï held a public hearing on a tax abatement request for Branch Manufacturing. Following the hearing, the council approved the tax abatement of $54,000 over 15 years. The company intends to expand its building by 13,000 square-feet and add 9 new jobs. Councilwoman Oehlers said it was nice to give a tax abatement to an existing business instead of always to new people. Councilman Lofquist agreed;
ï hired Andrew Cottingham as seasonal worker at $8.67/hr.
ï approved the plans and specifications for the Ash St./Golden Avenue street and utility improvements and authorized staff to advertise for bids for the project. The city has promise Andersen Corporation that Golden Avenue will be improved and ready when they start production at the new industrial park facility. The project will be paid for with an infrastructure grant, an MIF loan, trunk sanitary sewer and water funds, Municipal State Aid and assessments to benefiting properties;
ï approved the sale of a 1.4-acre lot in the industrial park, second addition, to Bearly Big Gymnastics at 65 cents per square-inch or $40,000; and
ï approved spending $9,000 to hire a Fox Lawson & Assoc. to update job descriptions, determine exempt status of several position, and review current pay structure. The consultants will also test to be sure the city is in compliance with comparable worth.
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