EDA Minutes 10-13-2021MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA)
Wednesday, October 13th, 2021— 6:00 p.m.
Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Members Present: President Steve Johnson, Treasurer Jon Morphew, Tracy Hinz,
011ie Koropchak-White and Hali Sittig, and Jim Davidson
Members Absent: Councilmembers Lloyd Hilgart
Staff Present: Jim Thares, Hayden Stensgard
1. Call to Order
EDA President Steve Johnson called the Regular Meeting of the Monticello EDA to order
at 6:03.
2. Roll Call
3. Consideration of additional agenda items
None
4. Consideration of electing or appointing EDA Vice President
OLLIE KOROPCHAK-WHITE MOVED TO APPOINT JON MORPHEW AS THE NEW VICE
PRESIDENT OF THE EDA. OLLIE KOROPCHAK-WHITE MOVED TO APPOINT TRACY HINZ AS
THE NEW TREASURER OF THE MONTICELLO EDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0.
5. Consent Agenda
a. Consideration of Approving Regular Meeting Minutes — September 8, 2021
Recommendation: Approve regular meeting minutes — September 8, 2021.
b. Consideration of Approving Payment of Bills
Recommendation: Approve payment of bills through September.
TRACY HINZ MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. JON MORPHEW
SECONDED THE MOTION, MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 5-0.
Regular Agenda
6. Consideration of Authorizine Matting of EDA owned parcels in Otter Creek Business
Park (OCBP) by WSB & Associates
Executive Director Jim Thares provided an overview of the consideration to the EDA
members and the public. Otter Creek Business Park is owned by the EDA and the City
and was established around 2004-5. As part of the CET Grant, some of the money
received from the grant will be used for platting this area and certifying lots to be shovel
ready. The City Council already review and approved the platting of the area. The City
Council is the recipient of the $500,000 CET Grant Funding.
Plat Area 1 is the EDA owned property in the Business Park. Karlsburger is planning to
expand to the west of their current property Karlsburger is looking to purchase the lot
west of their current property to complete the expansion proposal. WSB has completed
most of the platting previously in OCBP and so it makes sense to work with them again
on this task.
Plat Area 2 includes a potential expansion by Suburban Manufacturing next year. The
proposal would construct a new addition on the south and west sides of the current
building. Suburban is asking the EDA to consider selling approximately 35 feet in depth
of the lot located just south of Suburban to them. This will allow appropriate changes in
the parking lot to occur with along with the building expansion. This would be a
summer 2022 project
Plat Area 3 is not related to imminent development proposals and instead would help
the EDA achieve Shovel Ready Certification status for three nice sized lots in OCBP. The
platting steps can begin on these three new lots right away since the Shovel Ready
Certification steps and document prep work is also ready to begin.
The Shovel Ready work tasks also relies on CET Grant funding as outlined in the original
grant application submittal. The EDA does not have to pay anything towards this work
activity. The City Council has already reviewed and approved the Shovel Ready RFP and
selected the best quote provider, WSB, to complete the work. Since one of the lots is
still held in title by the EDA, staff is asking for EDA's consent to this work effort. The
entire Shovel Ready process involves 12 distinct documentation steps for each site. The
will continue until early spring 2022.
President Steve Johnson asked if Plat Area 1 and Plat Area 2 are subject to change
depending on staffs discussion with the businesses. Jim Thares confirmed, and that it
was dependent on final site plans.
Jon Morphew asked if the parcels in the area are owned by the city because of tax
purposes. Jim Thares said that was correct.
Jon Morphew asked why there is one parcel that is still is owned by the EDA.
Jim Thares said this parcel was added to the Otter Creek Business Park as a later
acquisition.
JON MORPHEW MOVED TO AUTHORIZE PLATTING SERVICES BY WSB AND ASSOCIATES
OF EDA OWNED PARCELS IN THE OTTER CREEK BUSINESS PARK AS NEEDED TO
ACCOMMODATE THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS. OLLIE KOROPCHAK-WHITE
SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0.
7. Consideration of Update and consent of recently approved proposal for Engineering
Services for Wetland Delineation, Mass Grading and Stormwater Improvements in
Otter Creek Business Park (OCBP)
Jim Thares provided an overview of the consideration to the members of the EDA and
the public. Thares reminded the EDA that there is no EDA funding needed for either of
these items, the CET Grant will cover both. This item does not need a motion.
Councilmember Jim Davidson arrived at 6:22 p.m.
Jim Thares continued saying that the goal of the CET Grant is to prepare the City for the
eventual phasing out of Xcel Energy, which is many years down the road. The state
provided the funding to take these steps as an early initiative. This will help get the City
and EDA owned land to a higher level of development preparedness.
Thares noted that there are wetlands that do need to re -delineated in regard to the
Karlsburger and Suburban Manufacturing sites. The capacity for the stormwater ponds
in the area will need to be expanded as well. Thares mentioned that it would also be
beneficial to prepare for an extension of Dalton Way to the southeast toward 901n
Street. This will help to provide quality access to a couple of the new lots which are to
be platted. So, all of the noted tasks were included in the OCBP engineering task items
RFP and WSB responded with an acceptable quote for this work as well. They are
already completing some of these tasks.
8. Economic Development Manager's Report
Jim Thares began with an update on Block 52. Staff has been in contact with the
developers, and they are optimistic about the project.
Jim Davidson asked about the lot that has been at the center of negotiations for quite
some time.
Jim Thares responded saying that he received a document from the other party and that
has been forwarded to the EDA attorney for additional revisions. Thares said the
process has indeed been slow though it seems to be carefully moving forward. The goal
would be to bring to the EDA for consideration at the November meeting.
Jim Thares indicated that he wanted to elaborate more about the Shovel -Ready Site
Certification program, the Shovel Ready Site RFP solicitation and the submitted
proposals. The CET Grant included steps for shovel -ready certification. The CET grant
contained a budget line for Shovel Ready surveying and related tasks in the amount of
$50,000. There is potential for leftover funds to be utilized by private landowners as
well if they are interested or so motivated. The City Council approved the selection of
the best quote provider (out of four) at the October 11, 2021, meeting. There are 12
distinct documentation steps and a site review by a MN -DEED committee and
consultant. It is expected that all work will continue into early spring with submittal to
MN DEED following that. The CET grant dollars must be spent by June 1, 2022.
Thares mentioned the Manufacturer's Recognition Breakfast taking place at 7:00 a.m.
on Thursday, October 14. He noted that attendance may be on the lighter side as ,
businesses are extremely busy this year (based on some responses received from the
invitation). Bob Kill of Enterprise Minnesota is the keynote speaker and Brian Koslofsky
of Wright County Tech will be speaking as well. EDA members are encouraged to attend.
Thares provided a summary review of the prospect list and active projects. Thares
noted Karlsburger Foods is not quite ready to proceed with their proposed 20,000 +/-
square foot expansion. Staff continues to monitor and stay in touch with Karlsburger
staff. He also mentioned "Project Integrity" as a new prospect for Monticello. They
currently have a facility and are outgrowing it and desire to be on 1-94 northwest of the
core metro Twin Cities area.
9. Adjourn
TRACY HINZ MOVED TO ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MONTICELLO EDA.
HALI SITTIG SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0, MEETING
ADJOURNED AT 6:39.
Recorder: Hayden Stensgard
Approve November 10, 2021
Attest:
res, Economic Development Director