Highway 25 Coalition Agenda Packet 02-23-2017Highway 25 Coalition
Agenda
Thursday February 23, 2017
7:30 AM
North Mississippi Room, Monticello City Hall
1. Call to order
2. Consideration of approval of meeting minutes from meeting held January 26, 2017
3. Update on Highway 25 Corridor Study Request for Proposals. (Andrew Witter and
Virgil Hawkins report)
• Review of proposals
• Discuss selection process
A. Interview team or full group?
B. Interview dates
4. Update on Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Program. (Dan
Weber)
5. Transportation and related Economic Development or Land Use Updates
• Becker
A. Natural Gas Power Plant Legislation
• Becker Township
• Big Lake
• Big Lake Township (Fiscal Agent)
• Monticello
A. Fallon Avenue Overpass Funding Secured - $2.1 M — Thank you
Highway 25 Coalition for your letter of support.
• Sherburne County
• Wright County
6. I94 Coalition — Corridors for Commerce update (Mike Potter)
7. Legislative updates — State and Federal — open forum
8. Status of membership approval of recent modification to JPA enabling addition of
Becker Township and City of Becker
9. Other
10. Adjourn
Highway 25 Coalition
Meeting Minutes — January 26, 2017
7:30 AM
Becker City Hall
Members Present - Big Lake Township - Bob Hofer, Larry Alfords, and Steve Pfleghaar;
Sherburne County — Tim Dolan, Steve Taylor, Andrew Witter; Wright County — Mike Potter
and Virgil Hawkins; City of Becker — Tracy Bertram, Rick Hendrickson, and Greg Pruszinske;
Becker Township — Brian Kolbinger; City of Big Lake — Hanna Klimmek, Clay Wilfahrt, and
Raeanne Danielowski; and City of Monticello — Brian Stumpf, Jeff O'Neill, and Jennifer
Schreiber
Others Present — MnDOT — Claudia Dumont; BNSF — Justin Pearson; Tom Emmer's Office —
Stacy Morse
1. Call to order.
2. Election of Officers —Chair, Vice -Chair, and Secretary.
Motion was made by Mike Potter, seconded by Raeanne DAnielowski, to appoint Brian
Stumpf as Chair for 2017. Motion carried unanimously. Motion was made by Brian
Stumpf, seconded by Larry Alfords, to appointment Raeanne Danielowski as Vice -Chair.
Motion carried unanimously. Motion was made by Raeanne Danieloswki, seconded by
Rick Hendrickson, to appoint Jennifer Schreiber as Secretary. Motion carried
unanimously.
3. Consideration of approval of meeting minutes from meeting held December 15, 2016.
Motion made by Tracy Bertram and seconded by Mike Potter to approve the minutes
from the meeting held December 15, 2016. Motion passed unanimously.
4. Update on BASF grant award ($25,000) submitted to Highway 25 Coalition Fiscal
Agent (Big Lake Township).
Notes were provided by Dan Weber. BNSF sent Sherburne County a check for $25,000
to be used for the Corridor Study report. The money was sent to Big Lake Township, the
fiscal agent. BNSF has requested to be updated as the project progresses.
S. Discuss 2017Individual financial contribution by members in light of the grant award.
• 2017 work planibudget called for $150,000 to fund study
• Counties contribute $75,000, Cities/townships contribute $75,000
Discussion ensued in regard to changing membership fees due to the additional members.
The group discussed keeping the dollar contribution at a total of $150,000. There was
some discussion to perhaps increase the total contribution and the extra funds could be
used for other items such as branding, marketing, or other. Motion was made by Raeanne
Danielowski, seconded by Mike Potter, to maintain the current total contribution at
$150,000. Motion carried unanimously.
6. Update on Highway 25 Corridor Study Request for Proposals
Andrew Witter updated the group on the status of the RFPs. He stated that the RFP was
released and individually sent to Eve firms — WSB, SRF, SEH, HDR, and Bolton &
Menk. The RFPs are due by January 31, 2017.
7. Update on Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Program.
Notes were provided by Dan Weber. Each of the four regional counties has either hold or
are in the process of holding their first public meeting to discuss the CEDS plan.
Sherburne County held meeting on January 9 and Wright County is holding a meeting
January 26. Over 30 people were in attendance at the Sherburne County meeting. The
meetings are being held to gather project ideas that will be included in the Certified
Economic Development Strategy. The River Crossing project will be included in the
final report submitted to the Federal EDA.
8. Transportation and related Economic Development or Land Use Updates
• Sherburne County — none.
• Big Lake — Starting to update their Comp Plan. Palmer Wireless Big Lake
Industrial Park received a Border to Border Broadband Development Grant for
the industrial park on the east edge of town. The project will serve 17
underserved businesses. There is a 27 -acre solar farm on the former bio -solids
site.
• Big Lake Township — none.
• Becker — Becker requested that members of the group help support legislation
relating to the Xcel power plant in Becker. Greg Pruszinski can provide a
sample letter/resolution for any area entity that would like to show support.
• Becker Township — none.
• Wright County — Wright County began a study of the NE Wright County area.
They will be looking to cities for input/financial support. Wright County is in
the process of a Master Space Study — looking at a new Government Center.
Wright County is considering a local option sales tax to fund $6-7 million of
needed road projects.
• Monticello — Monticello commented that the post office is being relocated to
their annex building. Brian Stumpf stated that the Fallon Avenue overpass
project was approved and the City acquired right-of-way for the project which is
scheduled for 2018.
9. Legislative Updates — State and Federal
• Stacy Morse, Tom Emmer's Office, mentioned that there may be a Transportation
Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grant available.
It was announced that there is $500 million available for transportation projects
around the country. Andrew Witter questioned the conditions of the grant. Ms.
Morse responded that she will find out the conditions of the grant.
10. Other.
• Brian Stumpf noted that the Monticello Orderly Annexation Area Board voted to not
allow solar in the orderly annexation area.
11. Adjourn.
Mike Potter, seconded by Raeanne Danielowski, moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:06
a.m. Motion carried unanimously.