IEDC Minutes 02-02-2021MINUTES
INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC)
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021— 7:00 a.m.
North Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Participants attended remotely.
Members Present: Liz Calpas, Mike Carr, Wayne Elam, Luke Dahlheimer, Meghan Hanson,
Lloyd Hilgart, Steve Johnson, Sarah Kortmansky, Joni Pawelk, Andrew Tapper,
Dick Van Allen, Darek Vetsch
Members Absent: Randy Skarphol, Kevin Steffensmeier, Don Roberts, Thomas Conboy
Liaisons Present: Marcy Anderson, Jolene Foss, Rachel Leonard, Jim Thares, Marcy Anderson
1. Call to Order
Vice Chairperson Liz Calpas called the regular meeting of the IEDC to order at 7 a.m.
2. Approve Minutes:
a. January 5, 2021 meeting minutes
LUKE DAHLHEIMER MOVED TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 5, 2021
MEETING MINUTES. MOTION SECONDED BY DAREK VETSCH.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 12-0.
3. Consideration of Adding Items to the Agenda
a. Wright County COVID-19 Business Relief Funding Program, Executive Order
#2099: Darek Vetsch said that applications for grant funding assistance are now
available for download from the County website. He will send a link to the IEDC
members and to the Monticello Chamber to share with businesses who may need
assistance.
4. Consideration of 2021 IEDC Action Statements -Goals and Table Topics
Jim Thares noted that each member should has the information in their packets for the
2021 Action Statements -Goals, which have been modified from last year's action
statements. He did a markup from last year's action statements and some of those have
been stricken from the 2021 action statements. Thares explained there is a core set of
statements that will always be in the action statements, and he also included the
ordinance and resolution as a backup in the packet for review. The basic key mission is
workforce development, job creation and retention, industrial growth and expansion, and
business vitality. The redline copy in the packet is refining the language a little bit.
Thares noted that he did receive feedback from a few IEDC members, and those notes are
incorporated in the action statement. The final copy, the clean version, lists the rankings
of the action statement goals. This is a continuation workflow, and the staff
recommendation is to adopt 2021 Action Statements — Goals.
Joni Pawelk brought up a question on the transportation piece. She noted that the
Mississippi River Coalition is included in Section 6B (specifically CMRRPP) but she
would also like to see that added to and acknowledged in Section 2.
JONI PAWELK MOVED TO APPROVE THE 2021 ACTION STATEMENT -GOALS
WITH THE ADDITION OF THE CMRRPP TO SECTION 2 AS NOTED ABOVE.
MOTION SECONDED BY WAYNE ELAM. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY,
12-0.
5. Consideration of Discussion of Template Letter of Support re Xcel Energy
Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) - Public Utilities Commission (PUC) filing
Jim Thares said that at a previous meeting Tom Conboy, manager at Xcel's Monticello
Nuclear Generating Plant (MNGP), had suggested that the IEDC members consider
writing letters of support for their IRP filing that would be considered by the PUC during
their deliberations and consideration process. Thares noted that the PUC requires a
specific letter template and the docket number needs to be included. Darek Vetsch said
that he sent in a letter in December 2020 and he will share the letter with Thares to use as
a template. Thares said it would be appropriate for the individual members to submit
letters of support, as well as a letter from the IEDC group as a whole. Rachel Leonard
offered to assist Thares in writing the letter if needed. Some members had concerns about
a letter going out from the IEDC that has not been reviewed by the group, and,
furthermore, would like to hear from Xcel Energy on their thoughts prior to writing the
letter. Rachel Leonard said the City Council has been in support of the IRP, which does
note the intent to relicense the Monticello plant past its current expiration of 2030 and the
City Council was happy to learn about. Thares will work with Leonard to get clarification
on whether the City passed a formal resolution to that effect and will bring the IEDCX
letter back for discussion and approval at the March 2, 2021 meeting. Thares will also
invite Tom Conboy and Scott Johnson from Xcel to attend that meeting.
6. Table Topic — Wright County Workforce Pathways — Jolene Foss, Executive
Director, Wright County Economic Development Partnership (WCEDP)
Jolene Foss shared a brief presentation explaining the history of the WCEDP program
and the new reboot and redesign of the program, and what they've been working on to
help with marketing of the grant program and keeping businesses strong in Wright
County. She shared the new redesign of the Workforce Pathways Wheel and explained
how it works currently and how the new wheel will be much more user friendly and
easier to navigate.
The WCEDP recognizes the need to be proactive in supporting workforce training and
making clear paths to success for those individuals who find themselves in transition,
young people making career decisions, incumbent and dislocated workers, and those who
are looking to improve their quality of life. The key factors in the program are as follows:
• Create: Create a database of major employers and manufacturers in Wright
County available on the pathways wheel tool.
• Enlighten: Enlighten parents and young students to the quality businesses and
jobs that already exist in Wright County using a variety of marketing techniques.
• Utilize: Better utilize the existing assets including MN Workforce Center, Wright
Tech/Training Center, Regional High Schools, Higher Education Facilities and
identifying expanding business and their needs.
• Identify: Identify skill sets in demand from Wright County employers and
collaborate with educational partners to offer trainings that match the demand.
The group has come up with a list of marketing opportunities to promote the new program
reboot, and when the redesigned wheel is complete in February, they will make more decisions
on how to move forward. Currently, Foss said they are working on applying for an initiative
foundation grant and will potentially use those funds from the initiative foundation to do
marketing such as a print campaign, a social media campaign, radio advertisements, and
billboards on the major transportation highways. The main message to convey is to work in
Wright County; don't waste time commuting when there are great opportunities here, the quality
of life is great here, and the cost of living is lower, etc.
Foss said that if anyone involved with the IEDC is aware of any businesses looking to fill
specific positions to let her know. And, if there is specific training required to fill the job, then
they can try and find the training opportunities to match up for that and can be the catalyst to
make those connections, by either bringing a trainer to Wright Tech in Buffalo or a trainer on site
for the employer so those jobs can be filled.
7. Reports (Verbal Reports):
a. Economic Development
• Projects: Jim Thares reviewed.
• Prospects List: Jim Thares reviewed.
b. Planning Commission Agenda (attached): Jim Thares reviewed.
c. City Council: Rachel Leonard reviewed two key highlights:
• City Council Seat: City council conducted interviews with six applicants
to fill the vacant seat. Brian Hudgens, who ran for council in 2020 and was
the next highest vote getter, was selected to fill the remainder of Mayor
Hilgart's city council term through 12/31 /2022. He will be sworn in prior
to the regular meeting on 2/8.
• Chelsea Commons: Leonard explained that this is a project that focuses on
the 100 acres between Chelsea Road and School Boulevard bordered by
Cedar & Edmonson. The potential plan is a mix of commercial and
residential along with public spaces and a central stormwater pond to
double as a lake feature. Working with the city's various consultants to put
together a small area plan and this will be significant in 2021 to determine
how to develop the area and to see what the city can do to aggressively
push development in this area. The study should be completed by June.
The goal to come out of that will be implementation and the next steps to
help bring about the vision for the area.
d. Chamber of Commerce: Marcy Anderson said their priority has shifted to
helping Wright County get the word out about the business relief grant
opportunity. While it has been a daunting task, they hit the ground running and
are committed. Positively, many of the businesses they have contacted are not
currently chamber members, so it's been a good opportunity to build new
relationships and to hopefully grow the Chamber in the future.
For the monthly meeting lunches, they are still unable to hold them in person
based upon governor orders; however, they are still planning the lunch & learn on
2/ 16 which will be a Zoom meeting.
The Events Committee is moving forward very cautiously due to restrictions and
regulations because of COVID-19. However, it is still important to plan. Today
the Chamber will send out Art in the Park applications. Again, they are moving
cautiously but still planning, hoping they can have the Party in the Park and the
golf tournament as well. Anderson informed the group to watch for updates on
both the City and Chamber websites.
8. Adjournment
LUKE DAHLHEIMER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:57 A.M. MOTION
SECONDED BY STEVE JOHNSON. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 12-0.
Recorder: Beth Green
Approved: March 2nd, 2021
Attest:
Jim Th res, Economic Development Director