EDA Minutes 01-09-2019MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA)
Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 — 6:00 p.m.
Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Commissioners Present: Steve Johnson, Bill Tapper, Tracy Hinz, 011ie Koropchak-White, Lloyd
Hilgart, and Jim Davidson
Commissioners Absent: Jon Morphew
Staff Present: Jim Thares and Sue Seeger
1. Call to Order
Steve Johnson called the regular meeting of the EDA to order at 6 p.m.
2. Roll Call
3. Consideration of additional agenda items
None.
4. Consent Agenda - Item 4a through 4d
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. OLLIE
KOROPCHAK-WHITE SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED, 6-0.
a. Consideration of approving Workshop Meeting Minutes — December 12,
2018
Recommendation: Approve Workshop Meeting Minutes — December 12, 2018.
b. Consideration of approving Regular Meeting Minutes — December 12, 2018
Recommendation: Approve Regular Meeting Minutes — December 12, 2018.
c. Consideration of approving payment of bills
Recommendation: Approve the payment of bills for December, 2018.
d. Consideration of approving staff attendance at 2019 Winter EDAM
Conferenee
Recommendation: Authorize Economic Development Manager to attend the 2019
EDAM Winter Conference.
5. Consideration of Report of City Arts Initiative Program and Use of Fred's Building,
Sue Seeger
Sue Seeger provided an update regarding the City Art's Initiative Program and noted that
the Fred's Building would be ready to use in about a month. Seeger reviewed proposed
projects for 2019 which included lantern making workshops for a downtown glow event,
house shaped artwork called the "Home" project, various mural projects (one grant was
received to place a mural on the side of Live, Love, Bloom), and concrete art workshops
to make modular seating, planters, and sculptures (to be placed in the downtown).
Steve Johnson asked Seeger about the funding for the Art's Initiative. Seeger noted that
the budget was small, but they would be using recycled parts for a lot of the artwork and
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all the workshops would be free to the public to attend.
6. Consideration of Report of Proposed Sherburne Countv Rail Park, Marie Pflipsen,
Dan Weber
Dan Weber introduced the discussion regarding the impacts of rail in Sherburne County.
Weber stated that Sherco is planning on decommissioning two of the three plants in
Becker, which has impacts on its tax base (40% loss). A loss of 150 jobs is expected
with that closure over the next several years.
Marie Pflipsen explained the future rail/industrial park expansion in Becker and Big
Lake. She also talked about potential tenants that may be interested in locating near the
new rail. She explained the development costs over the next 40 years would be near five
billion dollars or $125 million a year.
Weber noted that they have received $2.8 million in grants to support the rail park
concept thus far. He also pointed out that the potential number of new jobs associated
with the rail park is estimated to be 16,000 to 17,000.
7. Director's Report
Jim Thares provided the Economic Development Director's Report.
8. Closed Session — Consideration of recessing to closed session to develop or consider
offers or counter-offers for the purchase or sale of real or personal property
pursuant to Minnesota Statute 13D.05, Subdivision 3(c)(3).
Address: Otter Creek Business Park — Dalton Court - PID# 155191000020
9. Adiourn
TRACY HINZ MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 6:54 P.M. JIM
DAVIDSON SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED, 6-0.
Recorder: Jacob Thunander
Approved: February 13, 2019
Attest: Uti.
Thares, Economic Development Director
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