By MaryHelen Swanson

If you were at the North Branch City Council meeting this week, you were being watched, that is if you spoke up.

The new video system was up and running and is voice activated. When the mayor speaks, she is on screen. When the other council members speak, the whole council is on screen. If one stands at the podium to speaks, they are the subject of the picture.

There are some technical issues, however, which means is is not ready to be shown on local cable yet. The city is working on those issues.

Two meetings took place on Monday night.

At 6 p.m., the council held a special worksession to continue talking about the ESSBY project. An important step in the process to move forward on this city-owned housing, commercial, industrial project, is to decide what should be done at the I-35 and 400th Street intersection, if anything.

As previously noted, the council has several options if they want to plan for a future bridge or interchange at that location.

But, as before, the council could not come to a decision this week, although for the most part they agree that some land should be preserved for this project for the sake of future residents and businesses.

In almost every option, property would have to be purchased by the city.

In an effort to find out what the developers who have shown interest in a subdivision on acreage to the south of 400th in the ESSBY project area would like, the council agreed to meet with them on March 9.

Mayor Gloria Karsky has indicated that she would like to proceed with some development in that south area to garner funds to help pay for project costs, including cityís acquisition of land.

The council also discussed citizen concerns that have been brought up at the town meeting last fall, at council meetings and in a list prepared by area residents.

The conclusion was that all of the citizensí concerns should be put together on one list which the council could address at another special worksession.

The regular meeting

Fire Chief Don Brown apprised the council of recent officer elections as follows:

John McFarling - 1st asst. chief, Kevin Grote, 2nd asst. chief, Al Zaffke, training officer, Matt Koolmo nd Rick Miller, engineers, Brad Hult, secretary/treasurer and Don Simons as safety/public education person.

Brown will remain chief for two more years.

Brown also gave high commendations to Simons for the excellent education programs that have been conducted by the department such as the 15-20 tours of the fire hall per year, and visits to day cares and schools.

Brown said a lot of time and effort is put into the program and all of it is extra volunteer hours.

The newly elected officers were approved by the council, all will serve a two-year term.

Mayor Karsky said the city is very proud of its volunteer fire department.

Goals for 2006

The city council held a planning retreat at the end of January and has come to a consensus on goals for this year.

As in past years, the number one goal is to move forward on the Hwy. 95 bridge over I-35. The cityís goal is to complete the design of the bridge and begin preparing a comprehensive transportation plan (to be completed in 2007).

The second goal is to complete the marketing plan for commercial and industrial properties in the ESSBY project. This will include an agreed upon definition of workforce housing, which is planned as part of the project.

The third goal is to establish a mission and vision statement for the city.

A fourth goal is to complete a downtown revitalization plan and set communitywide design standards.

Finally, the city wants to conduct a citizen survey sometime later this spring.

In other business this week, the council:

ï Accepted the planning commissionís recommendation to approve a comprehensive plan amendment for Sandstone Hills Development located southeast of 400th Street and Grand Avenue. The change would be from LU3 (living unit) to LU2 on approximately 20 acres.

ï Denied a variance for Cory and Mollie Fisk for the creation of 2 lots at 9626 St. Croix Trail. The planning commission recommended denial based on the premise that approval would set a precedent for other lots to be divided to 5 acres in size. The council added and because there is no hardship.

ï Approved the final plat of Oak Park Villas, a subdivision of 9 single-family lots abutting I-35 by Northwoods Park. The conditions set forth by the planning commission included sidewalk, wide road with curb and gutters. The developer was on hand and argued against having to put in such a wide road, curb and gutters and sidewalks saying these were not part of the adjacent Northwoods development and they wanted to make this area as similar as possible. The council did not remove any of the conditions.

ï Set 7 p.m., March 13 as a public hearing for a proposal for financing elderly housing facilities in connection with the Ecumen project on the west side of the freeway.

ï On a 3-1 vote (Erickson opposed) approved the purchase of a dump truck with snow plow equipment at a cost of $130,055 from Boyer Ford.

ï Discussed a new sign for the new library. Councilwoman Theresa Furman had the name of a person who could offer assistance. She was looking at a digital sign that would provide information to the public.