Highway 25 Coalition Meeting Minutes 02-22-2018Highway 25 Coalition
Meeting Minutes — February 22, 2018
7:30 AM
Big Lake City Hall — Council Chambers
Members Present - Sherburne County —Tim Dolan, Dan Weber, and Andrew Witter; City of
Becker — Tracy Bertram, Greg Pruszinske, and Rick Hendrickson; City of Big Lake — Raeanne
Danielowski, Clay Wilfahrt, Layne Otteson, Michael Healy, and Hannah Klimmek; City of
Monticello — Brian Stumpf, Jeff O'Neill, and Jennifer Schreiber; and Wright County — Virgil
Hawkins
Others Present: Claudia Dumont, MnDOT; Ron Faber, University of Minnesota — Sand Plain
Research Farm, and Kevin Jullie, SRF
1. Call to order.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 a.m.
2. Consideration of approval of meeting minutes from meeting January 25, 2018.
Motion by Tim Dolan, seconded by Tracy Bertram, to approve the meeting minutes.
Motion carried unanimously.
3. Review Administrative Support
This will be discussed within a small work group.
4. Treasurer's Report
Not available.
5. Highway 25 Coalition Website/Communications
The group discussed development of an independent Highway 25 Coalition website.
Currently, the Coalition has a page on Monticello's website. There was consensus that
Monticello will lead the effort to develop a website for the coalition.
6. Rail Impact Study Update
Dan Weber gave an update on the rail impact study. The next meeting is scheduled for
March 5. Updates of the meetings will be provided to the Highway 25 Coalition. Andrew
Witter noted that the group has been gathering data on working on an economic impact
analysis.
7. Highway 25 Corridor Study
The group discussed the open house held on February 13. Overall there was positive
feedback. Clay Wilfahrt noted that he compiled information from residents in Big Lake
through the use of social media. The information demonstrated bridge site preferences.
Conversation ensued regarding the options. Many agreed that more information in regard
to traffic counts, economic impact, safety, environmental impacts, etc. need to be
determined before the `best' site can be considered.
Jeff O'Neill proposed that the group follow a common approach for communicating
information. Some entities communicate more directly with their constituents than others.
Andrew Witter noted the communication plan developed by SRF. This should be
reviewed.
The timeline of the Highway 25 study is a concern. Andrew Witter commented that it is
difficult to develop a timeline of actual years. A more realistic effort would be short term
versus long term projects. The river crossing in one aspect of the study. Raeanne
Danielowski responded that, although there are other aspects of the study, the congestion
and a new river crossing is an issue that needs to be addressed.
8. Transportation and related Economic Development or Land Use Updates
• Becker — None.
• Becker Township — None.
• Big Lake — Looking at further residential growth and commercial/industrial
development.
• Big Lake Township — None.
• Monticello — City is in process of some redevelopment planning. There is a
residential project in the works which spans over next three years.
• Sherburne County — Dan Weber stated that they have seen $1 million in new
construction county wide. This is the first time since the recession. Andrew
Witter noted than an application was submitted to the Corridors of Commerce
for County Rd 11 and Hwy 10 intersection. The county has scheduled two open
houses on their long term transportation plan — March 12 (Zimmerman) and
March 15 (Becker).
• Wright County — Virgil Hawkins noted that Wright County is also working on
their long range transportation plan and will be hosting open houses in late
spring. The I-94 Coalition submitted an application to the Corridors of
Commerce to extend from County Rd 241 in St. Michael to Albertville.
9. I-94 Update
Claudia Dumont noted that the Corridors of Commerce funds will be awarded in April.
The funds available are $200 million (metro) and $200 million (Greater MN).
10. Adjourn.
There being no further discussion, there was a motion by Tim Dolan, seconded by Brian
Stumpf, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The next meeting will be
March 29 in Monticello.