By MaryHelen Swanson

Citizens of North Branch should be glad to know that there is a good working relationship between the NB Police Department and the county Sheriffís office.

That was the news Sheriff Todd Rivard brought to the city council meeting Monday night, May 8.

Rivard, in fact, called it an ìoutstanding relationshipî and said a high level of cooperation has been working for years.

A benefit of the relationship is that records can be shared, he said.

In addition, Rivard said the county appreciates the fact that a member of the NB Police Dept. is on the county SWAT team.

ìHats off to the NB Police Dept,î he said for working so well with the Sheriffís department.

Rivard also updated the council on the new data equipment for each squad. He called it the ìlatest, greatest, biggest and bestî and said it should serve law enforcement well.

With a laptop computer in each car, deputies will be able to retrieve needed information from their vehicles, making processing of incidents more efficient. The system should be in place by July, Rivard said.

The sheriff also spoke about the proposed new jail, the continuing need for it and his search for land on which to build it.

Talks are underway now with some landowners near Center City, he said, about selling their property for the jail.

Rivard hopes to have land purchased by this summer and the 190-bed jail built by 2010.

Business attended to this week included approval of a final plat for Shade Tree Communities of 31 lots and 6 outlots, part of a housing development known as Luchtís Crossing, at the site of the present Green Acres nursing home.

The council approved it 3-1; Councilor Amy Oehlers was absent, Councilor Kathy Blomquist opposed. She had concerns about the tree preservation plan.

It was Councilor Theresa Furman who opposed the approval of the preparation of plans and specifications for a lift station in the Luchtís Crossing development area.

In a memo to the council, City Engineer Julie Dresel noted that the lift station must be constructed in 2006 to service the increased existing service area as well as the first and future phases of Luchtís Crossing.

She said by improving the lift station with the first phase of Luchtís Crossing, fewer future residents will be disturbed by the construction.

In other business, the council:

ï Approved the assessment reallocation for approximately 20 acres recently owned by Chisago County. The assessment for the property was $625,000. The parcel is now owned by North Branch Senior Living LLC who has platted it into three lots as North Branch Senior Housing. They are requesting that the assessment be recertified for the three new parcels and assessments be payable over the remaining 14 years of a 15-year period.

ï Discussed the termination of a lease with the SnoDrifters for the old Branch City Hall. The building is in poor condition, noted City Administrator Joe Lynch who, with other city staff, took a look at the structure. It is deemed to be too bad for improvements and should be razed. There is a pole building near it that the SnoDrifters use for storage of trail grooming equipment. The city could use the space for storage of equipment too, things that are now stored outside. The city has one bid for demolition, and another on the way. The issue of the lease was tabled to obtain the needed quotes, and to have staff talk about other options for the SnoDriftersí storage.

ï Heard from Furman who wanted support for the inclusion of Lora Walkerís name on a plaque at the new library. She said Walker was a commissioner at the time and had worked hard to get the new library in place.

ï Adopted a resolution ordering improvements and preparation of plans and specs for the North Branch Marketplace utility extension project. The $230,000 project is to be funded by assessments to benefitting property owners. The project includes bringing sanitary sewer and water to the property on the northwest corner of the I-35 interchange in NB. It will come from the south and go under Hwy. 95.

ï Hired Jeffrey Haffely as a police officer and William Binger IV as wastewater operator/public works.