City Administrator

The City Administrator provides

• leadership and direction in the administration of policies established by the Mayor and City Council
• coordination and supervision for the efficient operation of all City departments
• leadership and management of all departments

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           City Clerk

The Clerk's office has extensive contact with the public providing information requested by residents.

The City Clerk Department provides for

• preparing and maintaining official records for the City.
• recording the Council proceedings (keeping the Official Minute Book);
• preparing and posting official notices;
• providing public information on archives, ordinances contracts and policies;
• supervising national, state and local election proceedings in accordance with statutory requirements;
• executing and maintaining procedures for voter registration, and
• all City licensing

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          Finance Department

The Finance Department provides

• fiscal management, processing and maintenance of all accounting transactions for all City funds;
• budgetary controls;
• investments;
• fixed assets;
• five-year capital improvement plans; and
• preparation of accounting reports.

• click here for Annual Fee Schedule
• click here for Annual Budget

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           City Attorney

The City Attorney, a contract position, provides:

• all legal services for the City of North Branch;
• attendance at City Council meetings; and
• legal advice to the Council, City staff, the Engineering Department, and the Economic Development Authority (EDA).

The City generally bills the party gaining benefit for legal costs associated with developments or assessments

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          City Engineer

The City Engineer provides engineering services to the City which include:

• consultation for development of City engineering standards;
• preparation of reports, plans and specifications;
• construction inspection;
• construction administration;
• coordination of additional consultant engineering services provided to the City;
• engineering input for the Capital Improvement Plan; and
• general engineering consultation.

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           Planning and Zoning Department

The Planning and Zoning Department delivers services including the following

• reviews proposed residential and commercial development projects for compliance to the Zoning Ordinance,
• makes recommendations on such projects to the Planning Commission and City Council;
• provides information concerning the zoning ordinances to residents and developers;
• reviews and makes recommendations or requests for deviation from the zoning ordinances;
• enforces the zoning ordinances to ensure compliance;
• monitors the community's adherence to the long range land use plan; and
• monitors trends in metro area growth to provide better planning for the future of the City.

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          Police Department

The North Branch Police Department (www.northbranchpd.com) currently has 12 full-time officers, which includes a Police Chief (administrative & working), a Lieutenant, a School Liaison Officer, and a Crime Prevention Specialist.  The department also has a drug K-9 unit, a Police assistant, and a department clerical person.

The Police Department provides, in a professional, ethical and cost efficient manner, quality, community-based law enforcement services including:

• continuous patrol coverage to all persons within the City of North Branch
• school liaison officer,
• all duties mandated by the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Minnesota.

  Go to the North Branch PD website - click here! 

Civil Defense

The Civil Defense organization maintains liaison with local, state and federal agencies in order to provide the resources needed to meet emergency situations of catastrophic nature. The Chief of Police acts as Civil Defense Director.

Animal Control

The contractor responsible for animal control, Animal Control Services Inc. (ACSI), provides animal control and health and safety services and works under the direction of the North Branch Police Chief. Dog license fees pay part of the cost of the services, with most of the remainder coming from charging back the impound and animal-collection cost to the animal owner. Chisago County and other communities throughout the county also contract with ASCI for animal control services.

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         Fire Department

The Fire Department, an organization of 28 volunteers, provides services for both fire prevention and fire fighting. City voters approved the construction of a new facility in 2000.

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          Building Inspection Department

The Building Inspection Department provides all building code enforcement services including the following:

• processing of building permits applications,
• reviewing construction plans,
• performing on-site inspections,
• reviewing and inspecting all on-site septic treatment systems, all municipal system sewer and water connections, and
• processing and storage of construction records (including permits, water tests, well logs, septic design, and as-builts).

  click here to go to Building Department webpage

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          Public Works

The Public Works Department provides for:

• maintenance of City streets, parking lots, and right-of-ways and
• operation of the compost site.
• click here for Chloride Application

The Wastewater and Parks Departments also use Public Works personnel as needed.

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          Culture and Recreation

The Culture and Recreation Department, staffed by Park Foremen and part-time summer and winter helpers, provides for the operation and maintenance of

• parks,
• ball fields,
• skating rinks, and
• trails.

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          Library

The North Branch Library is located at 6355 379th Street, (651) 674-8443. The library is a branch of the East Central Regional Library (ECRL) which is in Cambridge. The ECRL provides the City with contract library services. The library receives much of its operating funds through the State; the City of North Branch provides a working building including maintenance.  Chisago County constructed a new building which opened in November, 2005.

The library has an active Friends of the North Branch Library organization. The Friends is an organization that supports and promotes all aspects of the North Branch Library by volunteering services, raising funds from used book sales, and providing leadership in applying for grants for equipment, books, and building improvements. New members are always welcome.

The Library hours are:

Sunday	Closed
Monday	10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday	12 noon to 8 p.m.
Wednesday	10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday	12 noon to 8 p.m.
Friday	10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday	10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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          Municipal Liquor Store

The City established the Municipal Liquor Store,  in operation since 1947, as a revenue-producing department. The liquor store has a staff of ten. The City constructed a new 6,000-square-foot store in the newly developed Northgate area behind the Holiday station, 5846 Old Main Street, that opened on June 7, 2000.

Sales and profit have exceeded projection. This profit, managed in the City's Enterprise Funds, goes back into the community through the City budget and will be allocated to projects as directed by the City Council.

The municipal liquor store hours are:

9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday
8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

  Go to the North Branch Liquor Store website - click here! 

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          North Branch Municipal Power & Light

The North Branch Municipal Power & Light has generated electricity with a fossil fuel generator for up to 1,000 customers since 1941. In 1995 the Commission began purchasing electricity for its 1120 customers from the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency. North Branch Municipal Water and Light also provides water service to the City. It employs seven and is governed by a three-member Utility Commission. See "Boards and Commissions" for meeting times and citizen commission members.

Contact Bridgitte Konrad at City Hall, 651-674-8113, or e-mail Bridgitte with questions or comments.