IEDC Minutes 01-05-2021MINUTES
INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC)
Tuesday, January 51h, 2021— 7:00 a.m.
North Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Participants attend in -person and remotely.
Members Present: Joni Pawelk, Randy Skarphol, Mayor Lloyd Hilgart, Darek Vetsch, Kevin
Steffensmeier, Wayne Elam, Luke Dahlheimer, Dick Van Allen, Andrew Tapper,
Mike Carr, Elizabeth Calpas, Meghan Hanson, and Thomas Conboy
Members Absent: Steve Johnson, Don Roberts,
Liaisons Present: Rachel Leonard, Jim Thares, Marcy Anderson, Dave Tombers,
1. Call to Order
Joni Pawelk called the regular meeting of the IEDC to order at 7:00 a.m.
2. Approve Minutes:
a. December 1st, 2020 meeting minutes
RANDY SKARPHOL MOVED TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 1ST, 2020
MEETING MINUTES. THOMAS CONBOY SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED, 13 -0.
3. Consideration of Adding Items to the Agenda
Darek Vetsch asked to have a time for an update and discussion regarding Wright
County's allocation of recently approved State Emergency COVID-19 Business Relief
funding program. Chair Pawelk added the topic to the Agenda as item 7.5.
4. Consideration of Electing 2021 IEDC Officers (Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and
Secretary)
LIZ CALPAS MOVED TO APPOINT RANDY SKARPHOL AS CHAIRPERSON.
LUKE DAHLHEIMER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 13-0.
RANDY SKARPHOL MOVED TO APPOINT LIZ CALPAS AS VICE
CHAIRPERSON. LLOYD HILGART SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION
CARRIED 13-0.
Members discussed the Secretary officeholder. Jim Thares indicated that City staff could
continue to serve in the role as Secretary. Members agreed and by unanimous consensus
Jim Thares, Economic Development Manager, was appointed as IEDC Secretary.
5. Consideration of recommending Sarah Kortmansky as new IEDC member to City
Council to fill vacant 3-year-term
Jim Thares reviewed the staff report and recommendation regarding Sarah Kortmansky's
recommended appointment to the IEDC. She is currently the Vice President of Business
Banking at Sherburne State Bank, Monticello, MN. She also serves on the Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors and is currently the Treasurer.
WAYNE ELAM MOVED TO RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT OF SARAH
KORTMANSKY TO THE IEDC FOR 3-YEAR TERM EXPIRING ON DECEMBER
31, 2023. JONI PAWELK SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED, 13-0.
6. Consideration of Restaurant -Hospitality Recruitment Strategy Update and
Discussion — Verbal Report, Randy S. and Jim T.
Randy Skarphol and Jim Thares provided a summary of their discussions since the
December l , 2020 IEDC meeting regarding formulating a plan to recruit a new restaurant
into the community. They reviewed a preliminary outline of the identified initial steps
and suggested that a small sub -committee be formed to complete the development of the
action plan. Members agreed that this was a worthwhile effort and several volunteered to
be on the sub -committee. Volunteers included: Wayne Elam, Darek Vetsch, Dick Van
Allen. Jim Thares also suggested Jacob Thunander, Community Economic Development
Coordinator for the City also be asked if he would be willing to participate in the sub-
committee. Jim will discuss with Jacob.
7. Consideration of 2021 IEDC Action Statements -Goals and Table Topics
Jim Thares reviewed the proposed 2021 Action Statements -Goals rough draft and the
related worksheet. He noted the status of each goal as to completion or ongoing work.
He asked the members to take the worksheet home and submit a priority ranking of the
2021 Action Statements back to staff in the coming weeks. A final proposed 2021
Action Statements could then be considered at the February 2, 2021 IEDC meeting.
7.5. Wright County Emergency COVID-19 Business Relief Funding Program
Darek Vetsch (Wright County Commissioner, District #2) reviewed the envisioned use of
Wright County's $2.7 million funding allocation recently approved by the Minnesota
Legislature. He said it is still a work in progress, though, by the end of the week, the
program details are expected to be finalized. Applications for grant funding assistance
may be available for download from the County website beginning on January 11, 2021.
Darek noted three main -focus areas of grant assistance as being: 1) Businesses such as
restaurants and gyms that have been the most severely impacted by the COVID-19
shutdowns and the Governor's executive order(s), 2) Sole Proprietor type businesses (e.g.
DJ's or specialty consultants) negatively impacted by COVID-19, and 3) Non -Profit
entities that have been negatively impacted through loss of fundraising opportunities or
reduced revenue streams (e.g. hockey clubs and ice arenas or Chamber of Commerce
organizations). He stated that applicants would have to show a revenue reduction of
30 percent from 2019 to 2020. He mentioned that a press release regarding grant funding
program would be coming out later in the day (January 5, 2021).
8. Reports (Verbal Reports):
a. Economic Development - Jim Thares reviewed.
• Proiects — Jim Thares reviewed.
• Prospects List — Jim Thares reviewed.
b. Planning Commission Agenda (attached) — Jim Thares reviewed.
c. City Council — Rachel Leonard introduced herself to the IEDC members as the
new City Administrator and reviewed steps to seat the new City Council and fill
the vacant seat. She also noted the adoption of the 2021 budget. Rachel updated
the IEDC about the Community Energy Transitions (CET) Grant program. The
City submitted its $500,000 CET Grant Program application to MN -DEED on
Monday, January 4, 2021. The funding is intended to help communities prepare
for the day when they no longer have large power generating facilities that
provide outsized employment, tax revenue, spin-off economic and social impacts.
The City proposed developing a Strategic Transition Plan (STP) as well
identifying new potential industrial development sites and financial modeling
exercises to better understand revenue stream adjustments in the grant scope of
work. The CET Grant Program is competitive. The City should learn in March
2021 if it will receive the funding. If the City receives the funding, it will have
until June 2022 to spend the funding.
d. Chamber of Commerce
Marcy Anderson reviewed the Chamber of Commerce activities. She is
optimistic that they can hold the annual golf tournament fundraiser in late May
2021. If COVID-19 is still restricting gatherings, they may have to move it to the
fall of the year, like they did in 2020. She informed the IEDC that the 2021
Riverfest dates are set for July 8-11, 2021.
9. Adjournment
RANDY SKARPHOL MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:59 A.M. KEVIN
STEFFENSMEIER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED, 13-0.
Recorder: Jacob Thunander
Approv d: February 2nd, 20
c
Attest: l�tti1
, Economic Development Director