Volunteers help shape their community by helping elected officials make decisions

by Tesha M. Christensen

North Branch and other cities rely on volunteers to help elected officials make their decisions.

These citizens volunteer are appointed to serve on various committees to provide input and to support the information gathering needed by elected officials as they make their decisions, according to North Branch Administrator Renae Fry.

“The citizen volunteers offer a perspective that is based on a more thorough analysis of information that may not be generally known to the public, but which comes from meeting regularly as members of a formally organized citizen committee,” added Fry. 

Citizens apply to committees for a variety of reasons. 

Fry served on her community’s planning commission for three years. “For me, it was my way of getting involved, becoming more knowledgeable about the issues that concerned me, and giving back to my community,” explained Fry. 

“Some volunteers serve as a way of building a resume or getting to know about how government works. Others use it as a way to gain entry into other forms of public service. 

“Regardless of the motive, I see volunteering as a way to participate in shaping the future of one’s community.”

EDA FOCUSES ON BUSINESSES

North Branch has three primary citizen-based advisory bodies. 

The Economic Development Authority meets on the first Thursday of each month at 3:30 p.m. Appointed members serve a six-year term. 

The EDA manages the marketing, sale and development of the city-owned development land and provides input regarding the overall economic development planning efforts for the city.  

“The North Branch Economic Development Authority takes an aggressive, business-friendly approach to its mission of attracting and retaining industrial and commercial businesses,” explained Fry. 

PLANNING COMMISSION ABOUT DEVELOPMENT

The Planning Commission meets in North Branch on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Appointed members serve a four-year term and make recommendations to the city council.

Planning commissioners primarily deal with matters that involve zoning, subdivision regulation, land use planning, and licensing.

The Planning Commission assists the city staff who make up the designated Planning Agency, and the Planning Commission performs such functions as are deemed necessary or advisable by the Planning Director or City Council.

The Planning Director and City Council may refer any matter to the Planning Commission for study, fact finding, hearing, investigation, inspection, and advice.  

Planning commissioners may conduct public hearings, which includes reviewing applications, analyzing testimony and reviewing and recommending proposed findings of fact and conditions for approval. Commissioners also host public input sessions, and make recommendations to the Planning Agency about changes and amendments to the city’s existing comprehensive plan, ordinances and zoning code.

Gary Schaefer joined the planning commission in October 2017. A 51-year resident of North Branch, Schaefer owned a service station for 15 years, and then worked as the city’s public works director. He retired in 2005.

“Being on the planning commission gives me insight into what is happening and what is being proposed for the future,” Schaefer observed. “I hope to give it direction to benefit everyone.”

He plans to respond to resident comments and concerns, while working for the benefit of all. After four months on the planning commission, Schaefer has respect for his fellow commissioners. “I believe they are all very conscientious,” he said. “I don’t see any particular power group coming to the surface.”

PARKS COMMISSION FOCUSES ON RECREATION

The Parks, Trails and Open Space Commission meets on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. and serves as an advisory body to the city council.

Volunteers provide input regarding the development, maintenance and management of parks and recreational areas and facilities within the city. Appointed members serve a three-year term.

Commissioners periodically visit, review and evaluate current recreational and park programs, and work to get the public interested in parks and recreation. They review future development, management and maintenance proposals and suggest revisions of the adopted policies, ordinances, regulations and comprehensive plan of the city. Commissioners conduct studies that may be specifically directed by the city council. They work to include schools and other political units.

Commissioners develop an annual capital improvement plan for parks, trails and open space. They also submit an annual report to the city council in September listing the status of ongoing park projects completed during the calendar year, and park projects recommended for the next calendar year.

They are the contact people for fellow residents to share opinions with about parks and recreation in the city.

WATER AND LIGHT FOCUSES ON UTILITIES

The city council appoints the citizen members to the North Branch Water and Light Commission that serves North Branch Water and Light, a separately organized public utility body.

The Water and Light Commission meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 3:30 p.m. 

For consideration, citizen volunteers must be a customer of either North Branch Water & Light water and/ or electrical services.  Appointed members serve a three-year term. 

More information can be found at www.nbpuc.com.

Printed in the 2018 North Branch Community Guide.