By MaryHelen Swanson

Two ball fields at Harder Park in North Branch will be getting lights sometime later this summer.

So said the NB City Council May 29, on a 4-1 vote. Financing will come as follows: $65,000 from the city's park dedication fees and about $113,000 from the city's park improvement fund.

The latter fund was set up about three years ago to build a pot of money to use to offset costs of a bond issue for $2.5 million worth of park improvements, including ball fields at Williams Park (near the fire hall).

The city's approval came with a contingency, of sorts, that the NB Baseball Association come up with a plan for assisting in ongoing costs.

Early in the discussion, Acting City Administrator Bridgitte Konrad noted that beyond the installation of lights and electrical service, costs would continue with a monthly electric bill.

And there would have to be some sort of turn-off system, she said. She also said that one of the fields needs to be fenced.

In all, the city could be looking at about $180,000 for this project.

Is it cheaper to build new fields in the long run, asked the mayor?

Possibly, said City Planner Al Cottingham, but maybe not for the short-term and it would take two years before they could be used. This issue is in the forefront because with some 750 kids playing ball this summer, there is a shortage of fields. Lighting two fields will extend the playing time and hopefully alleviate some of the problems.

Mayor Gloria Karsky approved of the lighting, but suggested the baseball association form a committee to see what they are willing to do to help with the costs.

In voting against the lighting motion, Councilor Theresa said she was disappointed in where the money was coming from, not opposed to the project. She had expected more to come from the park dedication fees.

Could've danced all night

The councilors addressed a request from the downtown business Pizza Pub for a permit to close a portion of 7th Avenue and hold a street dance June 15 and 16.

Konrad recommended a Friday only permit as the city had already approved a permit for the American Legion to hold a dance Saturday night in conjunction with Midsummer one block away (city parking lot near the Legion hall).

Councilman Larry Erickson moved, and the mayor seconded a motion to deny the request because of the location of the business and the limited space to have a dance.

Police Chief Steve Forner didn't recommend the approval either and the mayor added her concern over pedestrian safety issues.

Councilor Amy Oehlers said she agreed with not having the dance on the same night as the Legion's because that would be too much for local law enforcement, but she supported a one-night permit. It's one more way for us to support business, she said, and to get more people to the business.

She said for the council to start picking and choosing which business or group can do it is not right.

Councilor Theresa Furman concurred that giving perks to only some businesses was not right.

Erickson's motion to deny the permit for both nights did pass 5-0, but then, upon a motion by Furman and second by Oehlers, the council, on a 3-2 vote, approved a permit for Friday only with stipulations that there be four police on duty, that they stop selling liquor at 12:15 and stop the band at 12:30 and minimize closing time (they were asking to stay open until 3 a.m.) There will be no access to the dance from the street. Patrons will have to enter the establishment.

Following Tuesday night's decision, there was some concerns about the permit approval voiced to the city and councilors. So, the council held an emergency meeting Saturday morning, June 2, just before their goal setting session at the library. Councilor Kathy Blomquist attempted to make a motion to reconsider the permit approval, but her motion died for lack of a second.

The issue had come forward that the city had approved only the Legion dance by proclamation April 9.

City Attorney Tom Miller's opinion, which was reviewed at the Saturday meeting, was that the city is not bound by a proclamation.

According to Konrad, this has prompted the council to study the formation of a festival ordinance laying out some procedures and regulations for events such as Midsummer or Fall Festival. Konrad said this week that the council will be working on such an ordinance in the near future.

In other business, the council:

• Through the consent agenda, removed Police Lt. Dan Meyer from probation;

• Heard from NB Hockey Association president Jeff Henderson that the organization has changed the size of the proposed ice arena, reducing it by 7,000 square feet, but with the potential to add on. By doing so, he said, it cuts the cost down by about a half million dollars. He also noted that the group is getting closer to the $2 million goal in fund-raising and plans to talk about this with the council at their work session June 7;

• Received Legislative wrap-up reports from Sen. Rick Olseen and Rep. Jeremy Kalin. "It was definitely an adventure," said Kalin who was particularly pleased that Chisago County along with Isanti County received a grant to study cellulosic ethanol through the U of M. Olseen said it was a "pleasure and humbling" to represent Dist. 17. While both were disappointed that the I-35 bridge funding did not go through, Olseen told the council that the city's presentation on the bridge was the best laid out and most worked on plan;

• Called for a public hearing on a request for the new westside development Market Place for tax abatement to help with the realignment of Flink Ave. City Finance Director Dave Stutelberg reminded the councilors that the developers got approval for a tax abatement about a year ago for a project that included a grocery store and other small businesses. He said they have now added 80,000 sq. ft. more for a new store and other shops. The public hearing will be June 25, but the issue will be discussed at the June 7 council work session. Interim Administrator Bridgitte Konrad informed them that the county's economic development authority is leaning toward approving the tax abatement. Councilor Furman thought the gas station was missing from the new plan, but City Engineer Julie Dresel told her there was a place on the sketch for pumps;

• Approved a dangerous dog ordinance as submitted by Chief Forner who said one was needed by state statute. The ordinance allows for due process for someone whose dog has been deemed dangerous, it also gives the NBPD the right to remove a dog or have it disposed of. Violation will be a misdemeanor;

• Moved to go out for requests for proposals for banking services. The vote was 3-2 with councilors Furman and Oehlers opposed. Oehlers felt they should wait until any new bank coming to town west of the freeway was built;

• Learned from Stutelberg that the loan to Comforts of Home was dispensed (from the revolving loan fund) and that the first payment is due in July;

• Discussed the future of Konrad's position as city administrator. Konrad told the council in February she would take the position, but remains in the interim position. She has provided a contract for the personnel committee - the mayor and councilor Oehlers - to review. It is expected that the subject will be on the June 11 agenda for action. The council will also be working on a job description for a city clerk position.