By MaryHelen Swanson
Friday, the 13th, Nov. 13, to be exact, will be the luckiest day in North Branch in many years. It’s the day of the groundbreaking for the Hwy. 95 bridge over I-35.

The long-awaited moment will be celebrated by a visit from US Representative Jim Oberstar, a key player in the city’s obtaining adequate funding to finally get the project going.

The actual ceremony and gold-shovel photo op will take place at 9 a.m. on the northwest corner of the interchange and a reception will follow at the North Branch Fire Hall.

The city opened bids for the project on Monday, Oct. 19. Of the eight bidders, Lunda Construction came in lowest with $10,629,728.96.

The city’s engineer had estimated the project at $14,730,793.13. According to City Engineer Julie Dresel, the total project cost is projected to be $14,350,000.

The city’s consultants, WSB, will tabulate the bids and verify the calculations. When this is completed, Lunda Construction will have to process their DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) paperwork with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).

MnDOT will review the DBE documents and work with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to authorize the city to award the construction contract.

The city plans to award the contract at the Nov. 9 council meeting.

Action taken Monday night was approval of a joint powers agreement with Chisago County that defines the responsibilities for construction in the county’s right-of-way and payment responsibilities for the Hwy. 95 improvement project.

The joint powers allows NB to work in county right-of-way as the lead agency of the Hwy. 95 project and allows Chisago County to respond quickly to any issues that are encountered during construction.
Chisago County’s construction cost share is also addressed in the joint powers agreement.

The JPA is required before the project begins.

Dresel also explained that night that ramp closures occurring this week are not due to the bridge project.

The ramps are being redone where they connect to the freeway as part of the I-35 project that was ongoing over the summer.

Delays of several hours will occur during this work. Detours are set up and drivers are encouraged to use them until the work is completed. The work is expected to be finished by Friday, weather permitting.

Citizens approach
At the meeting Monday, several citizens approached the council during public comment regarding their opposition to the proposed power plant.

They want to keep the issue in front of the councilors and urged the councilors to use whatever power they have to halt the project.

Several other city residents brought up the condition of 410th Street, noting that with the recent rain, driving the gravel road has become seriously dangerous.

It was totally out of control over the weekend, said Ken Jedneak. He told the council they can’t expect people to live back on this road like that.

He was joined by Mike Tischler who also said 410th is a “disaster,” that you can’t drive 55 mph and that people try to drive with one tire on the shoulder to make it through. He reminded the council that people living back in the development are not getting street lights, water or sewer, just a difficult gravel road.

John Bambenek asked if the grader was broke last Friday. Public Works director Shawn Williams said they were out there but got rained out. He also said the city does grade the road on Sundays when needed.

Mayor Amy Oehlers assured the residents that she plans to put the city’s gravel roads on an upcoming work session agenda.

The residents were glad to hear that, but Jedneak  noted that he was in three years ago and there was no resolution.

In other business, the council:
• Agreed not to be involved in public meetings regarding Almelund’s wastewater treatment planning.

• Approved five-year fire contracts with portions of Oxford, North Branch and Fish Lake townships.

• Approved a contract with Fergus Power Pump, Inc., for removal of bio-solids (sludge) from the water treatment plant. The city removes approximately 650,000 gallons a year. The sludge is hauled to a local MPCA permitted farm field and incorporated into the soil. Fergus’s quote was $21,910.

The next council work session will be Nov. 5 and on the agenda are the following: budget, Andersen Windows development agreement, Water and Light relationship and Councilor Peter Holmes is bringing the police commission to the table.

The board went into closed session to discuss union contract negotiations.

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