By MaryHelen Swanson

The city council is satisfied with the performance of North Branch City Administrator Joe Lynch in his first year on the job.
At the Oct. 11 council meeting, a closed session was held to review his performance.
Concluding that Lynch has performed satisfactorily, the council reconvened and approved a salary increase bringing his salary to $74,105 plus $275 per month for car allowance.

They also reinstated 40 hours of personal time off for the administrator.
Last Monday night, Oct. 25, the council addressed two more issues regarding the administratorís contract.

It was decided to leave the health insurance coverage the same, but the council agreed that instead of an ìindefiniteî contract, they would make it a two-year contract with an evaluation at the end of two years.
Two years is a natural period of review, noted Mayor Gloria Karsky.

Several assessment hearings were to have been held Monday night, but due to an error in notice time to residents it was decided to open the hearings, review the information for each project, take testimony from any resident who did come to the meeting, and continue the hearings on Nov. 22.

The projects included Viking Park, roadway and drainage improvements. The total project cost was $156,000. It is to be assessed to 34 properties equally, with each paying $4,570.

Another project was the Ash Street and Golden Avenue street and utility improvements, project cost $2,060,000, $1,066,000 being assessed.

Another project was the Grand Avenue street and utility improvements. Total project cost was $533,000, with $300,000 being assessed.
Property owner Carol Nelson, who is being assessed $96,885 for the project, was on hand to express an objection. She said she has hired an attorney.

North Branch School District is also being assessed $203,115 for the project.
Another project was the 410th Street/Fletcher Avenue street and utility improvements.
Total project cost was $662,000. The project was under the feasibility estimate of $735,643.

In other projects that came in under the feasibility estimates, there had been a reduction to the individual assessments.
Kristy Helps from St. Croix Stone asked why the assessment to that company did not go down when the project total came in under estimate. She said the project also benefits the property to the north. As with the other hearings, this one was extended to Nov. 22.

The project for the street and utility improvements near the fire hall came in at $352,000 with $343,000 being put on the assessment roll. The city is picking up the assessment for the library site per the agreement with the county.
The final project was the 396th Court street and utility improvements, total cost $232,000. This is a small deadend road off the newly constructed Golden Avenue in the industrial park.

All of the hearings will continue Nov. 22.

Also on Nov. 22, the council will hold a public hearing on the bonding process for the money to purchase the Nyquist property.
In other business, the council:

ï Adopted a resolution to allow for an absentee ballot board to begin processing absentee ballots on Nov. 1. The ballots will not, however, be opened until election day. Two election judges would do this work, from two different political parties.
ï Set Nov. 8, 6:45 p.m. as the time to canvass the votes.

ï Agreed to change the Dec. 27 meeting to Dec. 28 and set Nov. 29 as a worksession.
ï Approved a transient merchant license to TAP Enterprises for a tool sale in November at the Senior Center and to Domestic Business Promotions, a coupon card promotion that will be sold door-to-door. Councilman Rod Lofquist was not pleased about the door-to-door concept, saying it was a thing of the past.

ï Adopted a resolution of condolences for the family of former mayor John Pinsonneault.

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