IEDC Minutes 03-05-2019MINUTES
INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC)
Tuesday, March 5th, 2019 — 7:00 a.m.
North Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Members Present: Darek Vetsch, Steve Johnson, Luke Dahlheimer, Dick Van Allen, Don Roberts,
Andrew Tapper, Mike Carr, Christopher Church, and Elizabeth Calpas
Members Absent: Kevin Steffensmeier, Joni Pawelk, Wayne Elam and Randy Skarphol
Liaisons Present: Jeff O'Neill, Jim Thares, Marcy Anderson, Duane Northagen, Dave Tombers, and
Mark Hanson
1. Call to Order
Darek Vetsch called the meeting of the IEDC to order at 7:02 a.m.
2. Approve Minutes:
a. February 5th, 2019 meeting minutes
LUKE DAHLHEIMER MOVED TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 5TH, 2019
MEETING MINUTES. SECONDED THE MOTION. CHRISTOPHER
CHURCH MOTION CARRIED, 10-0.
3. Consideration of Adding Items to the Agenda
Jeff O'Neill asked to review the Highway 25 Coalition Resolution with the IEDC.
Christopher Church asked for a few minutes to explain an upcoming outage fuel
replacement event that the power plant would be scheduling.
Mike Carr introduced the Monticello Public School's Superintendent — Eric Olson.
4. Consideration of New IEDC Member
Jim Thares explained that the current IEDC membership is at 13 members. He said that
the IEDC can have up to 18 members. With the recent resignations of two members, staff
posted the opening and received two interested applications. One of the applicants was
withdrawn from the pool due to a lack of follow up for an interview. An interview with a
Kari Moorhouse occurred early in February. Moorhouse is a resident of Monticello and
Xcel Energy employee out of the Roseville office. Staff recommends that Moorhouse be
appointed to the IEDC.
LUKE DAHLHEIMER MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPOINTMENT OF KARI
MOORHOUSE TO THE IEDC. DON ROBERTS SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED, 10-0.
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5. Consideration of Amending Bylaws
Jim Thares discussed amending the IEDC bylaws to allow up to two high school students
to be eligible to be on the IEDC board with the City Council ratifying the appointment.
Darek Vetsch recommended that the position be set up similarly to the Chamber
representation on the IEDC where the member is recommended from the organizational
body where the school district would recommend up to two students to serve.
Mike Carr indicated that the two students that attended the previous IEDC meeting were
still interested in being members. Luke Dahlheimer asked how Carr was able to choose
those two students. He explained school staff recommended both students for their
interest in the community and academic achievement.
MIKE CARR MOVED TO APPROVE PROPOSED AMENDMENT LANGUAGE TO
THE ORDINANCE GOVERNING THE IEDC AND ALSO THE IEDC
ORGANIZATIONAL AND MEMBERSHIP GUIDELINES ALLOWING THE
APPOINTMENT OF UP TO TWO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AS IEDC VOTING
MEMBERS. LUKE DAHLHEIMER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION
CARRIED, 10-0.
6. Consideration of Establishing BR&E Task Force
Jim Thares indicated that staff would like to start completing Business Retention and
Expansion (BR&E) visits again for 2019. Thares indicated that the past year, staff
completed a couple of these visits. The goal is to have around six BR&E visits for the
year. Thares asked for a task force to be set up, where a few IEDC members would
coordinate the visit with the selected Monticello business. It was noted that interest in
visits at Aroplax and M & M Precision Machining has already been confirmed by staff.
Mark Hanson, Jeff O'Neill, Mike Carr, Steve Johnson, and Marcy Anderson all
expressed interest in helping out on the BR&E visits.
Darek Vetsch stated that it would be a goal to have two visits completed in April to kick
things off and that staff should come back to the IEDC with additional businesses that are
interested in participating in May.
7. Added Items
Highway 25 — Jeff O'Neill explained that the City Council recently passed a resolution
supporting the Highway 25 Coalition. He explained the background of the organization
and said that four potential river crossings have been selected. He noted that each
organization pays membership fees which would support the need for an economic
development study that is based on the four potential crossings. The study would help to
understand the impacts on each jurisdiction based on the location crossing. O'Neill stated
that the organization would soon be creating a request for proposal following the
Highway 25 Coalition decision on a scope of work.
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O'Neill stated that the IEDC may be asked for support of Monticello's goals on the
Highway 25 coalition at a future date.
Xcel Energy — Christopher Church explained that Xcel Energy is completing their annual
outage. An estimated 800-1000 additional contract employees are expected to be in
Monticello over the next two months.
8. Table Topic — Review of Public Assistance Finance Programs
Jim Thares explained the City's public assistance finance programs. He explained a
variety of tools including Tax Increment Financing, Tax Abatement, SBA loans, Angel
Tax credit. He also mentioned a number of programs though MN DEED and Wright
County Economic Development Partnership.
9. Reports (Verbal Reports):
a. Economic Development
Jim Thares provided the economic development report update. He reviewed the
following projects:
• The Briggs Companies — The building department is currently completing
plan review.
• Fire Station — Jeff O'Neill reported that construction would begin in the
spring. The bids came in below the estimated engineering report.
• Monticello RV — The company has been seeking Planned Unit
Development approval for a new site along Chelsea Road. They have a
funding gap and are seeking financial assistance from the City's EDA.
• Headwater's Development — The company is expected to move forward
on a site located on the east edge of town for the completion of a 92 -unit
senior living facility.
• The prospect list will be emailed to members for review.
b. Planning Commission Agenda (attached)
The Planning Commission agenda was attached to the agenda packet. Jeff O'Neill
explained that the recent Monticello RV consideration would be going to the City
Council in the next week.
C. City Council
Jeff O'Neill explained that the City is continuing to monitor the City of Becker's
possible Google location final decision process along with study of potential
implications to the greater region including Monticello in terms of housing
demand, hotel room rates and demand, traffic, etc.
d. Chamber of Commerce
Marcy Anderson explained that the Chamber is getting ready for their next event
in May which will be the annual golf fundraiser event.
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Anderson also explained that she created a video at Swan Park to help raise funds.
To her surprise, it has garnered a lot of views and positive comments.
10. Adiournment (8:00am)
Darek Vetsch adjourned the meeting at 7:58 p.m.
Recorder: Jacob Thunander
Approved: April 2, 2019
Attest:
Jif Tliares, Economic Development Director
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