EDA Meeting Minutes - 03/12/2025 (Workshop)MINUTES
WORKSHOP MEETING - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA)
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 — 5:00 p.m.
Academy Room, Monticello Community Center
Commissioners Present: President Steve Johnson, Vice President Jon Morphew, Rick
Barger, Councilmember Tracy Hinz, Mayor Lloyd Hilgart
Commissioners Absent: Treasurer Hali Sittig
Staff Present: Executive Director Jim Thares, Angela Schumann, Tyler Bevier,
Anne Mueller
Call to Order
President Steve Johnson called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Mr. Johnson called the roll.
3. Discussion — Review — Proposed EDA 2025-2027 Workplan (Goals and Objectives)
Executive Director Jim Thares introduced the City of Monticello workplan and guiding its
economic development activities over the next three years. The proposed Workplan is
relatively similar to the previous three-year plan, with exception of Block 52
redevelopment and the Country Club Headwaters housing development. Some revisions
are obvious, per 2022-2024 template presented with redline revisions and others were
considered from comments by the EDA for editing which were also incorporated into
the draft.
Angela Schumann included that the context was taken directly out of the Monticello
2040 Vision + Plan, with attention to the end of the agenda, appendix states Chapter 5
pertains to Goals for the EDA and Chapter 9 of Policies and Strategies for said Goals.
Jim Thares went through each of the eight comprehensive goal plans with policies and
strategies for each, encouraging anyone to call out anything that jumps out to question
for discussion, as is directed by the EDA for staff time and commitment out of
expenditure funds and reason for the workshop.
Jon Morphew said the proposed has ambitious goals and noted the complexity of
tracking where each applicant is at, asked of the possibility for staff review on a
quarterly basis as a checklist means for status.
Angela Schumann added this is also factored and covered under the Implementation
chapter of the Workplan, referencing the tax abatement policy for example, and
confirmed this practice is annual.
EDA Workshop Meeting Minutes — 03/12/2025
Jim Thares recognized that a quarterly or semi-annual review is a worthy goal and would
be considered.
Jon Morphew suggested it could be reviewed on an as -needed basis too, perhaps by a
tracking measure or a spreadsheet with information. Some items would obviously not
be pertinent or those items not on a routine daily basis, a means of seeing where each
project is at, and that timeline of expectations are met. Lloyd Hilgart felt that quarterly
reporting may be too often.
Mayor Lloyd Hilgart recently made rounds, picked up promotional products for an
upcoming robotics competition from area businesses. This allowed him to visit industrial
business owners on site and he was granted an extensive tour at the Karlsburger facility.
He learns a lot in these situations and asked that the EDA consider having a goal of
involving the EDA members in these types of business contact efforts through BR&E
visits or possible less formal tours, etc. An idea suggested was with staff assistance to
perhaps organize a meeting for industries to come together to meet. Angela Schumann
clarified this practice would be different than business expansion/retention expansion
visit and quite challenging schedule during working hours at peak operation and
expectation of staff to accommodate.
Rick Barger proposed a means to spotlight Monticello businesses, to attract attention to
their operations for the general public's information and suggested a newspaper.
Perhaps by showing the greater Monticello population what businesses here do might
help attract local talent instead of driving to the Twin Cities.
Steve Johnson is interested to gather information on Monticello's workforce — how
many residents are leaving the city for work and how many live and work in the city. Mr.
Johnson agrees that shops and industrial parks could be highlighted regarding available
jobs and wages and vital skills within the community. Staying in town to live and work
will help reduce transportation costs as well. Perhaps there are open opportunities here
that are missed and a list of skills needed might attract people to come here. A
suggestion was made to see about other communication methods as promotion for the
City.
Angela Schumann stated that this practice is already in full swing at triple duty; Tyler
Bevier and communications director Stephanie Trottier have been networking with
businesses, cross -promoting from city website, newsletters, and social media platforms
in addition to the Monticello Times & Shopper.
Lloyd Hilgart suggested that citizens might want to see the people making the decisions.
Should a need or issue arise, a familiar face helps the ease of encountering a potential
situation. It is easier to keep the businesses that are already here versus luring in new
start-up operations. Monticello would prefer to help businesses move up or into
another existing facility rather than picking up an entire operation and moving out of
City limits.
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EDA Workshop Meeting Minutes — 03/12/2025
Steve Johnson also noted that networking is key in who you know, look them in the eye,
and develop good relationships with City leaders. He suggested a quarterly round of
visiting businesses to investigate how they operate, and moreover how we can help
them. Perhaps assistance by staff to arrange the tour may alleviate the notion of public
relations as a stunt rather than an offering.
Jon Morphew added that engagement direct with the community will bring new ideas
for EDA consideration, as an outside perspective on their everyday issues and situations,
and a means to learn from each other. Greater reception is received by simply being
heard and gaining another perspective.
Jim Thares mentioned a questionnaire with EDA input could be of benefit to put into
place and is along with proposing in -person site meetings, creating good reception from
businesses.
Rick Barger said mayoral introductions are great with upstarts, but when existing
businesses expand or approach the next step, having those consistent contacts and
connections to encourage support by the City, ensuring longevity in the community.
Angela Schumann suggested Mr. Barger is perhaps stating that outreach is not
necessarily for the new businesses, but what is existing.
Lloyd Hilgert expressed the importance of the City's assistance, noting the facade
program, ensuring financial help is available and that TIFs and abatements are not only
applicable to new businesses. The City wants to financially help those who are already
here, not just large companies.
Jim Thares said it may take some word refining though he concurs with the EDA views of
facilitating the EDA's active engagement with local businesses which may best fit in a
revised Policy 1.2.
Angela Schumann stated along with adding the verbiage, staff could review how City
promotional marketing might be tied in, to cross-reference Policy 1.2 of the Workplan.
Councilmember Tracy Hinz stated the goals presented are all -encompassing; all details
seem to be embedded in the document and could not determine where changes might
be needed. It was noted by the members that monthly or quarterly reports may help
inform the EDA of various efforts and results.
Angela Schumann agreed with the idea of a monthly report being doable and will also
assist with and may be built into a future Council Connections staff meeting. Jim Thares
also agreed with the notion.
EDA Workshop Meeting Minutes — 03/12/2025
Steve Johnson said while reviewing some of the questions, asked of the status of the
existing businesses downtown. Where is the status on the downtown project and where
is the City looking toward the future on this? Create conversations as to focus on
situations at hand as it pertains and suggested a discussion or roundtable with the
businesses, recalling this had been done when Block 52 was in the planning phase of the
development.
Angela Schumann said this was Downtown Rounds and the program has been put on
pause. The last opportunity to meet was attempted twice; invitations were hand -
delivered and emailed to downtown area businesses to gather and collectively converse,
however, no one showed up.
Angela Schumann said the Business Retention Expansion program structured by the EDA
is in effect; planning and scheduling by staff was focused half on downtown and half on
businesses in commercial. Continued conversation is considered.
Lloyd Hilgert stated that it took a long time, with enough change and turnover
downtown, for the City's reputation to be restored. The winds have changed; the City
has proven itself to be committed to helping businesses. Good news travels and
Monticello's businesses are quick to call out inaccuracies among their peers as to
advocate for the City. It has taken some time, but the positives outweigh the negatives.
Steve Johnson referenced the three -to -four-year timeframe it is taking to complete
Block 52 as of this coming summer and, after streetscaping, is when the community will
see this as a benefit. All surrounding businesses felt the disruptions and detours from
the Highway 75 bridge reconstruction at once. Now that the bridge is complete, traffic is
flowing again, and folks are beginning to congregate as they did before.
Angela Schumann also noted that map production is currently underway to incorporate
downtown way -finding kiosks for parking, dining, and more. Communications staff are
working specifically on the downtown portion for this piolet program in addition to the
City website, social media outlets, and print publications.
Members commented on the best methods for getting marketing information to the
public about community attributes. Jim Thares stated that Alexandria has billboards
promoting their community. Steve Johnson asked if the Hi -Way Liquor Store sign might
be able to advertise jobs available throughout the City.
Rick Barger said a staffing company, located by McDonald's, has an interactive sign that
does this further south from the liquor store on Highway 25, but is not sure how
effective this measure is. Angela Schumann said her team meets monthly with
communications staff and could be a topic for future discussion.
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EDA Workshop Meeting Minutes — 03/12/2025
Steve Johnson suggested asking the questions, "What is the message to get out there?",
"What responses are anticipated?", and "Is what we're doing successful?"
Adjournment
TRACI HINZ MOVED TO ADJOURN THE WORKSHOP MEETING. JON MORPHEW
SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0. MEETING ADJOURNED
AT 5:55 P.M.
A.
Recorder: Anne Mueller
Approved: April 9, 2025
Attes . 1
Jim Th/res, DA Executive Director
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