IDC Minutes 09-05-2006MINUTES
MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 7:00 a.m.
Bride Room -Monticello Community Center
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Paul Kleinwachter, Vice Chair Mike Benedetto, Mary Barger, Bill Tapper,
Dick Van Allen, Barb Schwientek, Lynne Dahl-Fleming, Tom Feaski, and
Michele Hertwig.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Don Roberts, Dan Olson, Don Tomann, Kelli Huxford, Jim Johnson, and Zona
Gutzwiller.
STAFF PRESENT: Ollie Koropchak and Jeff O'Neill.
COUNCIL LIAISON PRESENT: Mayor Clint Herbst and Council Member Wayne Mayer.
IDC MISSION STATEMENT: To increase the industrial tax base, to create jobs at liveable
wage-levels, and to maintain a favorable. and desirable industrial
environment in the City of Monticello.
1. Call to Order. (Please read the minutes and information prior to the meeting.)
Chair Kleinwachter called the IDC meeting to order at 7:06 a.m. declaring a quorum.
2. Vote to approve the Au ,gust 1, 2006 IDC minutes.
BILL TAPPER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 1, 2006 IDC MINUTES.
MIKE BENEDETTO SECONDED THE MOTION AND WITH NO CORRECTIONS OR
ADDITIONS, THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN.
3. Follow-up Business:
A. Discuss recommended Ordinance Amendment for Open and Outdoor Storage {Barer and call
for vote if necessary. Barger reported a meeting has been scheduled for September 20, 2006 at
City Hall.
B. Town Hall Concerns & Issues - What is the role of the IDC? Van Allen sorted the identified
Manufacturers Roundtable Issues and Concerns into three categories: qualified workers, cost
issues -personnel, and cost issues -business. Benedetto noted the lack of interest in technical
careers is also a perception of parents and kids. After 30 years of existence, the Technical
School in Buffalo struggles and may close within two years. The school to work program was
previously cut. Some students earn post-secondary education credits through Anoka Technical
College and transfer to a four-year college/university. Tapper expressed his observation: A
comparison of his experience as a youth working in a bike shop, others working on farms.
Government regulations and drug issues have affected hands-off mechanical learning for young
. people. Members agreed to encourage school counselors and students to attend the Chamber
IDC Minutes - 09/05/06
Showcase of industrial businesses on October 4~'. Tapper also inquired as to why the inability
do drug testing in Monticello rather than sending employees to Elk River.
C. Discuss time, 2-hour length, and date of IDC meeting and vote if necessarX.
After noting the IDC meeting date of the first Tuesday of the month was selected in order to
review and give input into industrial related items on the Planning Commission Agenda, the IDC
agreed to keep the current date and time. Noting the importance of the discussion and feedback
from subcommittees, Kleinwachter indicated his attempt to keep the agenda moving.
D. .Meeting between Paul Kleinwachter and Chamber Board relative to Industrial Luncheon.
Kleinwachter reported he and Koropchak attended the Chamber Board meeting to assist with
planning the Industrial Luncheon as the two organizations share a common interest to increase
communication between students and industrial businesses. Chamber President Hertwig
distributed an update on the details of the October 4 luncheon.
E. Reports from and goals of Subcommittees:
Marketing -Dahl-Fleming reported the marketing committee requested $33,000 from the 2007
city budget, flyers mailed to 55 precision machining companies, billboard up September 1, and
Koropchak exploring ways and means of the St. Cloud Industrial Insert in the Business Journal.
Koropchak noted at this point, the budget request has not been cut; however, the Council has
not set the levy or final budget.
BRE -Van Allen reported on the conclusions and recommendations by the BRE related to
building permit issues. See attached.
Industrial Land -This topic to be a part of the Comp Plan Task Force reported Barger. She and
Don Tomann are IDC representatives.
Transportation - No report from committee. Schwientek noted the upgrade of I-94 to 6 lanes
from Rogers to Monticello is 20-years out. O'Neill stated the Hwy 101 interchange and Hwy
610 interchange would come first.
4. Mayor's Cit~pdate:
A. Final agreement with AVR. Mayor Herbst reported the agreement with AVR is signed with the
closing yet to take place (mid October). He felt pretty good about the $3 million dollar budget
and felt the land exchange was a fair price. He felt the finished product would be attractive and
noted Koropchak does not agree. Koropchak foresees the I-2 zoning as a long-term negative
effect on the city.
B. Business Community Neighborhood meeting-- Herbst reported on the Comp Plan Update stating
the business neighborhood meeting was well attended by downtown and industrial business
people. He expects the public hearing on the comp plan to be in the spring/summer.
C. Fiber Optics Task Force. www.monticellofiber.com Council Member Mayer informed
members that he and Herbst met with Tom Ollig, TDS Telecom. Mayer gave a presentation to
the Chamber and Lynn Dahl-Fleming to the Rotary. The topic will come to a head by the next
IDC meeting, as the feasibility report and the task force recommendation come before the
Council on September 25. Fiber optics is served to every home much the same as cable TV.
Mayer said: O'Neill's hot list includes right-of--way use and agreement. The objective is not to
put the telephone or cable companies out-of-business but to provide a competitive choice of co
and speed. Feaski reported his phone bill doubled from Rogers to Monticello. Monticello is
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IDC Minutes - 09/05/06
looking at two scenarios: own the switch or partner.
D. Questions/answer period. The City and the Bowling Alley owners exchanged property, the
Monti Club and alley for city property north of the Theater along School Blvd. The city has a
lease-back to the bowling alley through 2007. Tapper asked about a stop sign at Chelsea East
and Fallon and the process for adjusting the speed limit. It appears Chelsea is 35 mph, School
45 mph, and County 117 55 mph. Herbst reported Chelsea Road would be upgraded and the
Fallon Avenue bridge completed soon. Lastly, Herbst reported not all the YMCA property lies
within the MOAA and work continues on the appraisal.
5. Review the draft copv of the September 5.2006 Planning Commission Agenda for industrial related
items. Discuss and vote on an IDC position or action if necessary.
One industrial item appeared on the September 5, 2006 Planning Commission Agenda: Consideration of
a request for conditional use permit for open and outdoor storage in an I-2 District, the applicant AME
(AVR). A copy of the agenda supplement was distributed to IDC members. Mayor Herbst said the five
stalls are for use as overflow to store aggregate. Tapper asked if this would be setting a precedence or
set a standard? Members were encouraged to attend the Planning Commission meeting as a quorum no
longer existed.
Feaski encouraged IDC members to look at the screening behind the Blue Chip building which consists
of plantings and fencing and also to note the architectural panels used on the exterior of the building..
6. New Business:
None.
7. Reports:
A. Economic Development Report.
Schwientek elaborated on the medical treatment facility stating it was a blanketed inquiry from a national
company looking through-out Minnesota for a site for an out-patient facility. The proposed facility has
no Doctors and could put others out-of-business. Koropchak said responding to the request is a long-
shot for Monticello as the requested community quality of life criteria is greater than exist in Monticello
today; however, Koropchak sees responding as a way of marketing and the opportunity to expose the
name of the City of Monticello for future development. Members accepted the written economic
development report.
8. Other Business.
A. Chamber Updates -Chair Hertwig reported on the plans for the Industrial Luncheon of October
4. Also encouraged people to attend the 150` Anniversary of the City of Monticello on
September 14 at Ellison Park; Chamber September 19th luncheon, program- proposed school
referendum; and Candidates Forum, October ~.'.~$'
B. Next IDC meeting -Tuesday, October 3, 2006.
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IDC Minutes - 09/05/06
9. Adjournment.
BILL TAPPER MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE IDC MEETING. MIKE BENEDETTO
SECONDED THE MOTION AND WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING
ADJOURNED AT 9:05 AM.
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Ollie Koropchak, Recorder
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