Both the City of North Branch and the North Branch Water and Light Commission received recent upgrades to their Moody’s Credit Rating as the result of routine rating surveillance on the part of the Agency.  The City’s rating was upgraded to an “A3” and the Commission was upgraded to a “Baa2”.  Both entities had been downgraded by Moody’s in 2014 due in part to historical financial performance.  At the time of the downgrades, the City and the Commission had already implemented changes to address their financial conditions, but rating agencies will require a number of years audited demonstration of positive financial results prior to reversing a downgrade.  The City and Commission’s municipal advisor, Kathleen Aho from Springsted Incorporated indicates that “the agencies’ ‘express rating elevator’ only goes down, not up.  While modest, the upgrade is a clear signal that the financial conditions that caused the 2014 downgrades have been addressed.  In my opinion they had already been addressed in 2014 and there should be additional upward pressure on the Moody’s rating, but in their mind more time is needed before further changes will be made.”

A number of nationally recognized firms provide bond ratings and the City has had a “AA-“ rating from Standard and Poors consistently since 2010.  While split ratings are not uncommon, the big variance between the City’s Standard and Poors rating and the Moody’s rating is unusual.  (The Commission does not have a Standard and Poors rating.)  Major rating categories go from the highest category of Aaa or AAA (Moodys and S&P respectively), down through Aa/AA, A/A, and Baa/BBB.

Neither the City nor the Commission have plans to issue long-term debt in the near future. For more information please contact City Hall at 651-674-8113

The city of North Branch is pleased to announce its next installment in its FREE movie series.  “The Avengers” will be shown on Friday, October 19 (MEA weekend) at 2:00 pm at Access Church.  The location has changed from the High School to Access Church due to the construction at the High School.  Access Church is located at 4525 St. Croix Trail in North Branch. 

The Avengers plot: Nick Fury is the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., an international peace-keeping agency. The agency is a who's who of Marvel Super Heroes, with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When global security is threatened by Loki and his cohorts, Nick Fury and his team will need all their powers to save the world from disaster which is formed by Loki and his team

This activity is made possible with funding from the Arts and Cultural Fund that came into being as a part of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that Minnesota Voters overwhelmingly passed in 2008.  Because of the work the State Legislature has done to direct this funding to the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Council System, it has ensured that this money is bringing access to the arts in every corner of the state.

We would like to that Minnesota State Legislature, the East Central Regional Arts Council, and you, the voters of Minnesota for this funding!  

We also Thank Access Church for letting us use their location.  So, please have fun at this free event. 

For additional event or park information, please call the City of North Branch at (651) 674-8113.  

Partnership Reaffirms Vital Role of Manufacturers to Regional Economy

The City of North Branch is honored to offer its support for Minnesota Manufacturing Week, which will take place from October 1-7. This week celebrates the importance of manufacturers to Minnesota’s economy and the benefits of employment in the field. Manufacturing Week educates the public, particularly students and young people embarking on their career paths, about the importance of manufacturing to our everyday lives and the creative work being done in our own communities. The City of North Branch will be recognizing our manufacturers during the MN Design team lunch event.    

Manufacturing is one of the largest drivers in our economy. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the region 7E (region where North Branch is located) is home to 254 manufacturers that employ over 5,000 people. These positions create over $61 million in wages in the first quarter of 2018 alone. Manufacturing positions in East Central Minnesota boast average earnings per week of $935, which is significantly higher than the state average of $756 and adds up to nearly $10,000 of additional income over the course of the year for the average worker. 

Numerous resources are available for those looking to learn more about Minnesota Manufacturing Week and its related events. DEED has a page that gathers information on Manufacturing Week events and explains the value of manufacturing to the statewide economy. The Dream It. Do it. program, which is part of a national manufacturing careers recruitment strategy, also provides tours of manufacturers across the state over the course of the week. 

The City of North Branch appreciates and thanks our manufacturers for their vital roles in sustaining our local economy and will continue its efforts to promote our manufacturers, build career pathways into manufacturing, and strengthen the region’s prospects for future growth. The City of North Branch has a great manufacturing community that have numerous job opportunities.  Our manufacturer’s make products that are very important including - nuts and bolts, to fishing piers, to windows, to calendars, to harvest grains and so much more.

For more information you are welcome to call Community Development Director Carla Vita at 651-674-8113 or cvita@ci.north-branch.mn.us to learn more about manufacturing in our region, efforts to support their growth, or to locate in our great City!

The Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the proposed Towns Edge Development is available for public comment. The EAW assesses potential environmental impacts for the proposed project.  Graphic Homes, Inc. is proposing a residential development on 165 acres in the City of North Branch.  The project includes 265 single family lots, 20 transitional lots, 10 rural residential lots, 26 townhome units, and 50 detached townhomes, totaling 371 housing units. A lot for a future municipal park is also included in the site. The project will include extending utilities to serve the development. The comment period is from September 24 to October 24, 2018. 

Click here for complete document  The Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW)

The EAW is available to view during business hours at the following locations:

• City of North Branch City Hall: 6408 Elm Street, North Branch, MN 55056
• City of North Branch Webpage: https://northbranchcitymn.iqm2.com/Citizens/LegalNotice.aspx
• Environmental Conservation Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MN 55401

To provide comments on the EAW, or for questions about the project, contact:

Carla Vita
Community Development Director
City of North Branch 
6408 Elm Street, PO Box 910
North Branch, MN 55056
651-674-8113
carlav@ci.north-branch.mn.us

and

Shawn Williams
WSB & Associates, Inc.
701 Xenia Avenue S - Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55416
swilliams@wsbeng.com

The City of North Branch is in the process of updating its comprehensive plan. Public comments and ideas are a vital part of the planning process. Public input was solicited through community cafes, online and in person surveys and attending public meetings. The city is now seeking public comments on the draft plan itself. The Comprehensive Plan is intended to reflect the values and needs of the community, guiding decisions related to planning, development, land uses, environmental issues, and other items. Does this document reflect the vision, goals and priorities of North Branch? If not, what changes do you recommend?

The Planning Commission will hold a special meeting on August 23 at which meeting the Planning Commission will review the entire Plan with all of the comments to date. They will review additional comments and edits at their regular meeting scheduled for September 4, 2018. Final receipt of public comments will be at the Planning Commission’s Public Hearing tentatively scheduled for September 20, 2018.

The First Draft of 2018 Comprehensive Plan for the City Of North Branch is posted on the website and facebook. If you are not able to find it please click on the following link to get there Comprehensive Plan Draft 

After going over the draft please complete proving your comments below:

Public Comments Survey

Two drainage repair projects on Hwy 8 will take place this summer in Washington and Chisago Counties. For more detailed report please click below:

Detailed Report

The Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the proposed Meadows North Development is available for public comment. The EAW assesses potential environmental impacts for the proposed project. The project includes 128 single family home lots, 25 villa home lots, 38 twin homes (19 twin home lots), two 4-story assisted living facilities totaling 200 units, two 3-story apartment buildings totaling 200 units, a convenience store, a proposed municipal park, and a regional stormwater pond. The project will include extending utilities to serve the development. The comment period is from August 6 to September 5, 2018.

Click here for complete document The Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW)

The EAW is available to view during business hours at the following locations:

• City of North Branch City Hall: 6408 Elm Street, North Branch, MN 55056
• City of North Branch Webpage: http://northbranchcitymn.iqm2.com/Citizens/LegalNotice.asp
• Environmental Conservation Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MN 55401

To provide comments on the EAW, or for questions about the project, contact:

Carla Vita
Community Development Director
City of North Branch
6408 Elm Street, PO Box 910
North Branch, MN 55056
651-674-8113
carlav@ci.north-branch.mn.us

and

Shawn Williams
WSB & Associates, Inc.
701 Xenia Avenue S - Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55416
swilliams@wsbeng.com

June 1, 2018

Contact: Denise Workcuff
651-234-7502

Highway 95 and Highway 96 road preservation project begins June 2

ROSEVILLE, Minn. – Motorists can expect periodic lane closures and delays on Highway 96 in Washington County and on Highway 95 in Chisago County this weekend and early next week. Crews will be completing preventative maintenance work that will extend the life of the pavement surfaces. The road work will consist of seal coating the pavement and shoulders.

The project is scheduled to begin Saturday morning, June 2 on Highway 96 between Highway 61 in White Bear Lake and Highway 95 in Stillwater.

Another crew will be doing the same work on Highway 95 from North Branch to Taylors Falls, beginning Sunday morning, June 3. During the project, a pilot car and flaggers will control traffic, and motorists should plan for extra time in the areas where crews are working.

The project work is scheduled during off-peak daytime hours, evening hours and weekends to minimalize traffic impacts.

The work will last approximately one week on each highway.  Once the sealcoat work is complete, crews will return in late June to install permanent road striping. This work will be done under traffic.

All work is weather dependent and scheduling is approximate.

MnDOT urges motorists to always drive with caution, and reminds them to slow down in the work area.

For updated road condition information, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.

MnDOT will embark on a statewide safety improvement project starting this summer through fall 2018.  Crews will be restriping and installing mumble strips at selected intersections in your community.  Exact dates have not yet been determined.  However, construction will take place during the off-peak hours of 9 am -3 pm daily in the following areas:

• Hwy 96 between Hwy 61 and Hwy 95
• Hwy 95 between North Branch and Taylors Falls
• Hwy 95 between Scandia and Marine on St. Croix
• Hwy 8 at Forest Lake

Most locations above should be completed in a few days, but motorists, residents and businesses will encounter delays throughout the work. 

A little background on this project.  As you may already know, more than 40% of fatal and serious crashes happen at rural intersections.  With this in mind we are installing the mumble strips to help reduce speed at select locations. A recent study done by FHWA concluded that a similar safety improvement design helped to reduce injury crashes by more than 30%. This safety improvement work will be done at 80 intersections across 20 counties, and six MnDOT districts. This work may also be a low cost solution in the future to improve intersection safety. 

The North Branch Police Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Police Reserve Officer.  Police Reserve Officers are non-licensed and non-paid volunteers who are willing to provide volunteer hours at the North Branch Police Department on a regular basis.  This position provides for a great opportunity for those considering or currently pursuing a career in law enforcement and for those who are in other careers and wish to serve their community by volunteering.  For More information and how to apply, please click here.