TO THE EDITOR:

Having just returned from the North Branch community meeting regarding the ESSBY project, I have a few observations. First, it was heartening to see so many citizens of North Branch turn out for the meeting. I couldnít tell you the exact number, but to say it was in the hundreds would not be an exaggeration. If more people showed up at Planning Commission and City Council meetings, perhaps we would not have had this project get so far along and be faced with the choices we now have.

I came away from the meeting feeling more than ever that North Branch does not have the infrastructure to handle the increased traffic, students, etc. that will come from building 500 new homes on this parcel of land. I am not alone ñ 99 percent of the people at the meeting did not want this development to go ahead as planned. The general feeling was the just because the city bought up this land, with no clear idea of what they were going to do with, does not mean they should compound the problem by adding homes that the community cannot sustain. Two wrongs donít make a right.

I have no faith that businesses moving into the industrial portion of the development will provide the jobs that the City Council is counting on ñ look at Andersen Windows. How many North Branch citizens are employed there? They stated that businesses move to areas with ìrooftops.î Well, North Branch has plenty of rooftops now and a good portion of our citizens commute to the Cities to work. Iím sure a lot of us would prefer to work closer to home if the jobs were here.

In a nutshell, if the Council does not go ahead with their current plan, it will cost the taxpayers of North Branch an average of $200 per year for three years in the form of a tax levy to buy them out of the pickle theyíre now in. If they go ahead with the project, they estimate that taxpayers will save a mere $23 per year ñ $2 per month. Do you believe that the $23 per year savings will not be offset by increased taxes when they find that other infrastructure is needed? Iím not a fan ofÝincreased taxes, but IídÝrather pay the $200 per year now, instead of paying an unknown amount later.

The Council is proposing a bridge over I-35 at 400th Street that will have no on and off ramps to I-35. They are assuming that both residential and industrial traffic will cross this bridge, turn south on Flink Ave., then go either east or west on Hwy. 95. A pretty big assumption if you ask me ñ would you take a roundabout route to Hwy. 95 if there were a more direct route? What will happen is that the majority of the traffic will go either through the Northwoods development to Hwy. 95, or south on Hwy. 30 to Hwy. 95. The intersection of Hwys. 95 and 30 cannot handle this traffic, and having industrial traffic in the Northwoods development is simply unacceptable. If they decide to add on and off ramps at 400th Street later, it will be paid for at taxpayer expense, since the state will not fund an interchange within one mile of another one. There goes your $23 per year savings.

Regarding schools, the school district has said they can handle, and desire, growth of approximately 76 students per year. The city is estimating that with 150 homes per year being built in the city of North Branch, we would add 96 students per year to the system. They are not counting students districtwide. What about Stacy? Almelund? Harris? How many more students will this add? It wonít be long before weíre building new schools. Once again, there goes your $23 per year savings.

Finally, when our City Council positions are up for election, please remember that Theresa Fuhrman and Amy Oehlers are the only two council members who believe this project has gotten out of hand. Vote for them, and weíll have a good start at getting people into office that are truly looking out for the citizens of North Branch.

All of this information is in the public record ñ get involved and know whatís going on in your city!

Judi Fitcha
North Branch

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