By MaryHelen Swanson

North Branch Police Chief Jules Zimmer is hanging up his badge.

Monday night at the city council meeting his resignation from his position with the city was approved.

In his letter of resignation, Zimmer said he has decided to retire from law enforcement.

His resignation is effective July 31, but Zimmer assured the council in his letter that the police department will continue to function in a professional manner as the city searches for his replacement.

ìThe men and women that serve your community have and will continue to do an exemplary job,î Zimmer said.

The city council accepted his resignation as part of the consent agenda that evening.

Fire Chief Don Brown was also on hand for this weekís meeting. He asked for permission to change the bylaws for the fire department relief association.

The association asked that the two city representatives on the association be the mayor and the cityís finance director instead of the city administrator. They felt the finance director could better provide financial expertise. The fire departmentís request was granted.

The council has talked about a survey for some time now and assistant city administrator Bridgitte Konrad had put together a draft for the council to review.

The last survey was taken in 2001.

The council approved sending one out to each property owner in the city later this summer.

The city is interested in learning more about the residents, including demographics such as ages, members of a household, what area they live in, and possibly if and how far they commute to work.

The city will also poll its people on their support of levies for such things as an activity center, recreational facilities that may or may not include a pool, ice arena, etc.

The survey will ask questions about uses of city services, how they are rated.

Finally, the survey will ask about the general feeling on the cityís direction and the manner in which individuals are treated by city staff and elected officials.

The surveys will be useful to the council as they plan for the future.

Sale of Equipment Certificates

The council also unanimously agreed to accept the bid of Pine City State Bank for the equipment certificate sale in the amount of $463,882.

Three banks had bid, First National Bank, Community National Bank and Pine City State Bank.

Pine City bankís was lowest based on interest rates.

The equipment certificate will be used to purchase such things as street lights, elections, check out reconfiguration at the liquor store, a computer system for the municipal building, two squad cars, a plow tuck, hot asphalt mix trailer, pickup for public works and a leaf vacuum.

Funding source to repay this equipment certificate will be property taxes for five years beginning in 2007.

In other business, the council:

ï Approved the garbage contract with Terryís Disposal for $4,857.84 for the year.

ï Agreed to move forward on broadcasting council meetings on the Public Access Channel 10, with a goal to do live broadcasts. The city will start rebroadcasts of meetings with the June 12 meeting. The city can also post notices on the site. Rebroadcast of meetings will be at 9 a.m. on Wednesday and noon on Thursday following the council meetings.

ï Learned that the building activity in NB is still way low. It was noted that this is due in part to a shortage of available housing stock.

ï Approved an agreement with Lakes Region EMS. The city will plow snow and mow the lawn for the EMS, located in the industrial park, in return for training for city staff and fire department.

ï Accepted the 2005 audit report from Tautges, Redpath and Co., LTD.

ï Approved a feasibility study for Flink Ave./400th Street utility and street improvements for the Prairie Parkway area (ESSBY area). The project area is west of I-35. If the study is completed, there are opportunities for federal grants.