IEDC Meeting Minutes - 08/05/2025MINUTES
INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC)
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
7:00 a.m. at Monticello Community Center
Members Present: Chairperson Jarred Merchant, Vice Chairperson Mike Huey, Luke Dahlheimer,
Charlotte Gabler, Joe Elam, Sarah Kortmansky, Liz Kokesh, Sonja McElroy, Rob
Stark, Andrew Tapper, Tony Velishek, Darek Vetsch
Members Absent: Sean Hafen, Aaron Holthaus, Eric Olson, Joni Pawelk, Cory Ritter, Greg Schultz
Liaisons: Economic Development Manager Jim Thares, City Administrator Rachel
Leonard, Tyler Bevier, Deb Meyer, Anne Mueller
Liaisons Absent: Missy Meidinger, Dave Tombers, Tim Zipoy
1. General Business
A. Call to Order
Chair Jarred Merchant called the regular meeting of the Monticello Industrial Economic
Development Committee (IEDC) to order at 7:00 a.m.
B. Roll Call
Roll call was not taken at the meeting.
C. Approval of Minutes
DAREK VETSCH MOVED TO APPROVE THE JUNE 3, 2025, REGULAR MEETING MINUTES.
TONY VELISHEK SECONDED MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
D. Consideration of Additional Agenda Items
None.
2. Regular Agenda
A. Table Topic — 2025 Legislative Update — Darielle Dannen, Flaherty & Hood, P.A.
Senior Attorney and Lobbyist Darielle Dannen of law firm Flaherty & Hood, P.A.
introduced herself via Teams video to the IEDC. Ms. Dannen shared her background and
a presentation on legislative level updates regarding the 2024 bonding bill and the
complications presented at the session. Ms. Dannen spoke to the "Drive for Five"
training program established in 2023 and RFP coming soon from MN DEED as means to
offset housing costs for smaller communities to take effect October 2025 running
through Spring 2026.
Ms. Dannen spoke to the moderate data center tax credit and the measures to bring
future deficit down via bonding now; the Federal budget bill will bring cuts over the next
two years indefinitely for Medicaid and resession packages.
Darek Vetsch, Commissioner for Wright County, spoke to the involvement with State
reduction demo grants.
IEDC Meeting Minutes — 08/05/2025
Economic Development Manager Jim Thares spoke to how the House and Senate
disagree on items throughout the "skinny" bill; TIFs are not included nor considered. Mr.
Thares spoke to the process to establish a local housing trust fund, due to strict
legislative rules and complications to stack and allocate beneficial tax dollars.
NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THE AGENDA ITEM.
B. CGMC Summer Conference - Legislative Overview — Reviewed by City Staff
Economic Development Manager Jim Thares spoke to the conference held by the
Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) and the various current legislative issues
and initiatives.
NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THE AGENDA ITEM.
C. 2025 Manufacturers Breakfast Event (Oct 10, 2025) Planning and Information Update
Economic Development Manager Jim Thares mentioned the upcoming Manufacturers
Breakfast Event for Friday, October 10 taking place in the Mississippi Room of the
Monticello Community Center. Mr. Thares and staff are working to secure King Banaian,
Finance Professor from Saint Cloud State University, to speak at the event and may
pursue a panel of guest speakers for engaging context. Many IEDC members expressed
interest in having Mr. Banaian come back to speak after a three-year hiatus.
NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THE AGENDA ITEM.
3. Liaison Updates
A. Wright County Economic Development Partnership (WCEDP)
WCEDP Executive Director Missy Meidinger provided an overview of recent events and
upcoming training opportunities available through Wright County partnerships.
B. Chamber of Commerce
Deb Meyer, Monticello Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, provided a brief
overview of recent and upcoming Chamber events.
C. Economic Development
Mr. Thares presented updates on the following economic development activities.
• Building Permit Update — Qtr. #2
• Sales Tax Collections Update — Qtr. #2
• BR&E Visits Update
• Project Update
• Prospect List
• August 5, 2025, Planning Commission Agenda
As Mr. Thares addressed the increased interest rates and the incorporation of sales tax
regarding building permits, Andrew Tapper asked how he was able to gauge projections.
Mr. Thares spoke to the $15 million 10-year study at the University of Minnesota — more
details will be shared at the next IEDC meeting.
Mr. Thares reported on the Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) visits attended by
IEDC Meeting Minutes — 08/05/2025
some IEDC members and Economic Development Authority (EDA) commissioners; the
feedback received from other downtown business owners and various downtown
activities including the TH25 construction completion, Block 52, and Nordic TapHouse
opening the new location downtown.
Mr. Thares spoke receiving two loan applications to consider for discussion at the next
EDA workshop meeting and the prospect list.
Luke Dahlheimer asked of the status of the Meadowbrook project. Jim Thares spoke to
the developer's passing and a recent news article reporting on other communities and
projects left with a series of issues; an article will be shared with the IEDC later.
D. City Council Update
City Councilmember Charlotte Gabler provided an update of the recent City Council
activities and continuing construction and infrastructure projects. Andrew Tapper also
spoke, as Planning Commission Chairperson and having attended, regarding the TH25
Open House held on August 4 by MNDOT was not regarding the bridge crossing rebuild,
but for strategic possibilities for alternatives to address safety, mobility, and
environmental concerns with the Mississippi River and TH25.
4. Next Meeting Reminder — Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2025
5. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned by consensus at 8:07 a.m.
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Recorder: Anne Mueller
Approved: September 3, 2025
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Attest: A�z / ��
J mes bares, Economic Development Manager