Highway 25 Coalition Meeting Minutes 02-28-2019Highway 25 Coalition
Meeting Minutes — February 28, 2019
7:30 AM
North Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Members Present - City of Becker — Greg Pruszinske; Becker Township — Brian Kolbinger; City
of Big Lake — Raeanne Danielowski, Clay Wilfahrt, Hanna Klimmek, Gina Wolbeck; Big Lake
Township — Bob Hofer and Steve Pfleghaar; City of Monticello — Brian Stumpf, Lloyd Hilgart,
Jeff O'Neill, Matt Leonard, Angela Schumann, and Rachel Leonard; Sherburne County — Tim
Dolan, Steve Taylor, and Andrew Witter; and Wright County —Darek Vetsch and Virgil Hawkins.
Others Present: Stacy Morse from Congressman Emmer's Office.
1. Call to order.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 a.m.
2. Consideration of adding items to the agenda.
Motion made by Hofer to adopt the proposed agenda with the addition of Election of
Officers to be discussed after No. 7. Seconded by Dolan, unanimous ayes, motion carried.
3. Consideration of approval of meeting minutes from October 25, 2018.
Motion made by Dolan to approve the October 25, 2018 Highway 25 Coalition Meeting
Minutes as presented. Seconded by Hofer, unanimous ayes, motion carried.
4. Treasurers Report
Bob Hofer presented the February 2019 Treasurer's Report showing a cash balance of
$223,617.63.
Motion made by Kolbinger to accept the February 2019 Treasurers Report. Seconded by
Vetsch, unanimous ayes, motion carried.
S. Highway 25 Area Study — Consideration of Preferred River Crossing Options (tabled
from 07126/18 & 08/30/18 meetings)
Chair Danielowski reintroduced Item No. 6 that was tabled at the July 26, 2018 meeting to
allow the City of Monticello to provide data regarding Option E, tabled at the August 30,
2018 meeting to allow the City of Monticello time to review Option 2 until the September
coalition meeting, and tabled at the October 25, 2018 meeting to allow time for Coalition
Members to provide concerns on any of the options.
Members from Sherburne County, the City of Becker, the City of Big Lake, Becker
Township, and Big Lake Township presented a letter stating the Boards collectively are
fully engaged and supportive of the Highway 25 Coalition and its efforts. The letter states
that it is critically important to improve the connectivity between TH 10 and I-94. It noted
that goals were established and agreed to by all Coalition members to guide our process
for the greater good of all the communities involved.
The City of Monticello presented a Resolution in support of an economic development
analysis of TH 25 transportation improvements connecting I-94 to US 10.
Brian Stumpf presented further information on the City of Monticello Resolution noting
that the City of Monticello is willing to look at Options A through E in a financially joint
effort with the Coalition. Jeff O'Neill stated that a bridge crossing is inevitable, discussing
that the whole region will benefit, and the importance of looking at it from an overall
economic standpoint. O'Neill noted that Monticello is willing to bring option E back into
the fold if land use, utilities, and economic components of the area are studied. Discussion
was held on the proposed Google project in Becker which will benefit the region.
Monticello doesn't want to obstruct something that is good for the area. O'Neill informed
the Coalition that the Monticello City Council would like the Coalition to go the extra step
and hire an independent third party planning entity to conduct an economic study of each
of the options. O'Neill discussed the Coalitions cash balance, potential funding available
from the Central MN Initiative Foundation, and additional membership allocations for
2019, noting that the Coalition does have enough resources to do a study. O'Neill stated
that we must have an understanding of the transportation network noting that it's more than
just a river crossing, it's a connection from I-94 to US 10.
Steve Taylor asked what the expected cost of the proposed study could be. O'Neill noted
that the cost is unknown at this time, but would expect it to be close to what the Coalition
paid for on the SRF study. It was discussed that an economic study could potentially cost
$100,000+ due to the complexity of the proposed study. Discussion was held on how far
outside the scope an economic study would be from what SRF was going to do. It was
discussed that it would serve as an add-on to the original study. It wouldn't undermine the
study, but would curate an additional set of information. Matt Leonard discussed how a
bridge crossing will impact local economies, noting that the NEPA process would only
look at environmental impacts leaving a need for a study on economic benefits to the region
as well. Data collected during this type of study could also be used for future grant
applications.
Clay Wilfahrt questioned if the goal is to narrow down the options. O'Neill reviewed that
the study will drive that, and that the end goal would be to get down to one option. Wilfahrt
questioned why we would do the economic study first, questioning why it couldn't run
with the rest of the information. Darek Vetsch clarified that both studies are quite
expensive, expressing that they are looking for ideas that will benefit and address some of
Monticello's concerns.
Tim Dolan clarified that the NEPA process would include all viable options, noting that
we should focus on environmental first to eliminate options before we move on to the cost
of an economic study. Vetsch stated that the Coalition should go into it as unified as
possible. Dolan questioned why we would pay for a study on all options if some of them
aren't environmentally viable, which can only be determined through the NEPA process.
Monticello representatives stated that they are not supportive of Option E without an
economic study being done.
Andrew Witter stated that if we are going to focus on the economic side of it, should we
also be giving other environmental areas the same level of study. O'Neill stated that there
is a huge private investment, development opportunities, utility concerns, and housing
implications that surround Option E, noting that their community needs to have a good
understanding of what impact Option E could have economically. Monticello is offering
an overture to Sherburne County and the east side communities that they want to be in this
Coalition, and encouraged the group to allow this study to play out in an effort to keep the
group together.
Dolan questioned that if we do decide to do the economic development study, how will the
decision be made to move forward, specifically questioning what the threshold would be.
O'Neill stated that they are not going to advocate our financial well-being, explaining that
they are looking for reasons to support Option E. Vetsch stressed that there will be
actionable information gained from an economic study including information on utilities
and group planning in terms of residential, commercial, and industrial development noting
that right now we are planning separately.
Raeanne Danielowski stated that our current study was supposed to get us to that same
location, stressing that environmental impacts should be studied first as it carries the most
weight. Danielowski stated her commitment to conduct the NEPA study first, continuing
to work together, and considering the best interest of all entities. Vetsch stated that we need
to start planning economically and cohesively. Danielowski questioned why we would
conduct an economic development study on all five options when the environmental study
could potentially kick out some of those options. O'Neill discussed that he feels the Central
MN Initiative Foundation could potentially fund a good portion of study, possibly up to
fifty percent. O'Neill also stressed that for Monticello, the economic study trumps the
environmental study.
Dolan questioned what type of economic data Monticello would be opposed to regarding
specific river crossings, and asked at what dollar figure does Monticello want to eliminate
Option E. Vetsch clarified that they want to be able to assure their constituents that Option
E would benefit them. Dolan asked for clarification on if Monticello essentially just wants
an economic study done on Option E. Stumpf clarified that the study would benefit all
entities, not just Monticello.
Leonard stated that economic development is a factor in the determination of the bridge
placement. Monticello wants to get a return on their dollars, and questioned what the harm
is with studying the economic impact. Leonard also discussed the County's Long Range
Transportation Plan noting that Highway 25 is at capacity and we need to look at how to
relieve traffic even past 1-94.
Taylor recapped that Monticello has indicated that time is of the essence, but that the
Coalition has tabled this item dating back to July 26th to allow further study. At what point
do we need to make a decision. If we had made some kind of decision a year ago, option E
might already be eliminated. Discussion was held on past conflict between the east and
west side entities, and the need to become unified in our efforts. Danielowski discussed
that members felt they were acting in a unified capacity when conducting the bridge
crossing study through SRF and expected that the relationship would continue entering into
the NEPA process.
Dolan asked if there is a possibility to close out the study without moving forward with the
NEPA process to have a usable study for each entity to use on its own, and to allow
Monticello to do whatever study they want at their own expense. After that, the Coalition
can then determine if we should move forward with NEPA. Witter reviewed that the
counties and some cities have already started their own studies using their own funds.
Dolan expressed that he doesn't want his constituents to have to fund a study that
Monticello solely wants to do to for their own benefit. Leonard stated that we could
possibly resurrect the NEPA study in the future. Discussion was held on what data should
be available from the SRF study.
Motion by Dolan to accept the SRF study as it sits and to meet as a group when the study
is closed out to review and possibly accept the final report. Seconded by Kolbinger,
unanimous ayes.
The Coalition directed the City of Monticello to collect more information on conducting
an economic study of all options and to report back at the next meeting. Angela Schumann
asked for feedback from Sherburne County on finalizing the economic study plan. Dan
Weber offered to assist the City of Monticello.
6. Consideration of Approval of the 2019 Highway 25 Coalition Work Plan and Budget
(tabled from 07126118, 08130118, and 10125118 meetings)
Item was tabled until the next meeting.
7. Consideration of Authorizing Expenditure for Development of Highway 25 Coalition
Website (tabled from 07126118 & 08130118 meetings)
Rachel Leonard stated that the website quote obtained last year is no longer valid and asked
if the Coalition would like staff to seek a new quote. The general consensus of the Coalition
was that they are open to obtaining new quotes. Staff will bring results back to the next
meeting.
8. Election of Officers
Motion by Stumpf to nominate Darek Vetsch as the Chair of the Highway 25 Coalition.
Seconded by Dolan, unanimous ayes, motion carried.
Motion by Dolan to nominate Brian Stumpf as the Vice Chair of the Highway 25 Coalition.
Seconded by Danielowski, unanimous ayes, motion carried.
9. Transportation and Related Economic Development/Land Use Updates
No updates given due to time constraints.
10.194 Coalition Update
No update given.
11. Other Updates
No other updates given.
12. Adjourn
Chair Vetsch adjourned the meeting at 8:35 a.m.
The next Highway 25 Coalition meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday, March 28,
2019 at 7:30 a.m. in the North Mississippi Room at Monticello City Hall.