By MaryHelen Swanson

It seems there isnít a North Branch City Council meeting that doesnít start with a room full of people these days. This week was no different.

Many of the people were little. They were children who like to play hockey and they and their parents were on hand for a discussion of a potential hockey arena.

But the city was not ready for the discussion and the agenda item was tabled to another meeting. With subdued faces, many folks left before the rest of the meeting got underway.

A series of public hearings was next pertaining to the modification and amendment of the cityís economic development district and an amendment to the tax increment financing plan; the business subsidy request for Dave Swanson, and the business subsidy request for Ecumen.

Later in the meeting, the council, on a 3-2 vote, approved the modification to the TIF plan. The transaction with Swanson for a piece of property in the industrial park was approved 4-1. It involves the city buying the property from the Olson Trust for $43,031, selling it to Swanson for $58,483 and providing $52,000 in TIF relief. Swanson plans to build a 6,000 sq. ft. building for his aluminum siding business, with 3 employees.

The council also approved a conditional use permit for Ecumen for a nursing home and assisted living facility. The council would not give approval for the use of a cement fiberboard on the gable ends of the proposed building in place of masonry.

Many of the small crowd that remained in the audience were on hand for the action on a rezoning request and preliminary plat for Golden Pine Estates, a proposed development of 40 lots on the north end of town.

It was noted that a lengthy public hearing had been held on the issue July 18 at which time the PC voted 3-2 to deny the rezoning request. Subsequently, the PC also voted unanimously to recommend the city council deny the preliminary plat.

At the council table, a motion by Theresa Furman to deny the rezoning passed 3-2 with Mayor Gloria Karsky and Councilwoman Kathy Blomquist opposed.

The mayor felt there wasnít sufficient support for reasons to deny it and Blomquist concurred.

The motion to deny the preliminary plat was also approved. The proposed plat is a 20-acre parcel along CR 30 which is surrounded by larger-lot homes.

Many area residents were opposed to the smaller lots, had issues of traffic, light pollution, safety and affect on area schools. Two citizens were allowed to speak Monday night, but the mayor noted that it was not a public hearing.

An attorney for the developers reminded the council that a decision had to be based on facts. He claimed his clientsí application was in compliance with city requirements.

Bond sale
The council awarded the sale of 15-year General Obligation bonds in the amount of $5,170,000 for three street and utility projects: 400th Street (to service the ESSBY projects), 383rd Street (to service the new nursing home and assisted living project) and Cherokee Avenue/Fletcher Avenue (for the new residential project in ESSBY and industrial park) to RBC Dain Rauscher, Inc.

Harris wastewater connection
The council reviewed a report from engineer Julie Dresel on the impact of the city of Harris on the NB wastewater capacity if Harris were to connect to the wastewater plant.

Dresel noted that it would be feasible for Harris to connect and that sewer rates, trunk fees and sewer connection fees could be set so there is no financial burden on NB residents. The council agreed to send an Aug. 2 letter from WSB and Assoc. to Harris. The letter talks about issues of future permitting by the MPCA, potential revenues from fees paid by Harris and the fact that harris would be responsible for improvements of a lift station and forcemain to the NB system. Harris would need 134 connections at present.

In other business, the council:
ï Approved a Sunday liquor license for the new Mexican restaurant Green Iguana to open soon in North Branch.

ï Denied once again the request of JJís Bowl for a 2 a.m. bar closing for the following reasons: the license cost would not begin to cover the additional cost for even a 2-day a week 2 a.m. closing at this or any other establishment, this would extend by one additional hour each power shift by the city, which is currently not included in our contract and is not budgeted in 2005 or 2006, would extend by an additional hour those events occurring on or near property that would be crimes of property damage, noise disturbance or generally impact the surrounding neighborhood.

ï Was encouraged by the mayor to send letters of appreciation to the Congressman who helped procure the funding for the bridge reconstruction project. They also talked briefly about the realignment of Flink Ave. as part of the project.

ï Discussed issues with the intersection at County Road 30 and Hwy. 95 in downtown North Branch. As the county is studying what can be done to make changes for safety at this corner, the county engineer suggests a temporary fix of removing the two parking spaces by the drug store up to the alley. The council agreed to continue the discussion at the next meeting and contact the business owners who would be impacted by this change.

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