IDC Minutes 11-01-2005MINUTES
MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
• Tuesday, November 1, 2005 - 7:00 a.m.
Academy Room -Monticello Community Center
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Dan Olson, Mary Barger, Bill Tapper, Mike Benedetto, Barb
Schwientek, Lynne Dahl, Tom Feaski, Kelli Huxford, and Sue
Struckness.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Vice Chair Paul Kleinwachter, Tom Lindquist, Dick Van Allen, Don Roberts, and
Don Tomann.
STAFF PRESENT: Ollie Koropchak.
COUNCIL LIAISON PRESENT: Mayor Clint Herbst and Council Member Wayne Mayer.
IDC MISSION STATEMENT: To maintain and increase the industrial tax base and to
create jobs in the City of Monticello, Minnesota.
Call to Order. (Please read the minutes and information prior to the meeting.)
Chair Olson called the IDC meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. declaring a quorum.
Vote to approve the September 6, 2005 and October 4, 2005 IDC minutes.
• Bill Tapper made a motion to approve the September 6, 2005, and October 4, 2005, IDC
minutes. Mary Barger seconded the motion and with no corrections or additions, the
minutes were approved as written.
Mayor's Cit~p_date:
A. Proposed 1-94 and County Road l 8 Interchanee Proiect.
1. Re-zone from I1-A to 12 for AVR -Planning Commission denied 5-0. City Council
passed 4-l . Mayer voting against.
2. Status of AVR negotiations. Mayor Herbst reported. that in a closed meeting a week
ago, the Council requested a formal written response from AVR to the city's proposal.
The thought is AVR looking to inflate the numbers and walk away. The City will
continue to negotiate another two weeks; thereafter, through the court system.
3. Status of I-94/County Rd 18 interchange construction. The Mayor reported the bridge
was out and noted the trunk traffic should have been detoured. at the Hasty exist for a
straight run on County Road 75 (Broadway) rather then exit at Highway 25 and turning
right onto Broadway.
4. Status of West Chelsea Road extension. Chelsea Road. expected to open next week.
A. Jefferson at Monticello and Popular Hills residential developments. Heritage
slowed down. Xcel against interchange at Orchard Road by ballfields, want
further west. Letter to Heritage about this issue. Popular Hills re-look at
townhouse/single family units.
B. Status of YMCA property. Coming up with valuation.
. C. Fiber Option Task Force. Final draft of Request for Proposal being prepared for
Council approval. After Council approval, RFP will be distributed. RFP to
consist of options for fiber.
IDC Minutes - 11/01/2005
4. Reports:
A. Economic Development Report - written report by Koropchak.
In addition, Koropchak informed members of her conversation with Ray Schmidt of the
Tire Service Mfg Equipment Company. Based on Mr. Bill Blazer comment at the
luncheon of the importance to acknowledge existing businesses with a "thank you ", Ray
expressed his disappointment of little recognition given the existing small businesses in
Monticello. He noted no press on the small businesses, it was all about the new and big
businesses coming to town. Koropchak did send him a copy of the 2005 Spring City
Newsletter noting expansions by existing industrial businesses including the Tire Service
Company. He talked about the attitude toward his business or himself. He expressed his
appreciation of the current Mayor and his efforts and the Economic Development
Director. It was suggested to contact Erik at the newspaper for featured stories,
Koropchak to write articles in the City Newsletter, and that the Marketing Committee
address the concern.
Members asked when the last survey of industrial businesses was completed by the City.
Koropchak noted beyond the BRE visits, the only recent survey was for job and wage
levels. Some members were surprised with the results of the survey conducted by Mr.
Blazer and that crime was ranked as a concern. IDC members who participated in the
local BRE visits concurred with Blazer. Mayer noted due the Wright County and
Monticello being located along 1 -94 and Hwy 25, the greater arnount of moving traffic is a
reflection of drug crimes and the number of people on duty.
IDC members requested a copy of the survey. They briefly discussed the traffic
congestion along I -94 and its impact to the industrial park. Tapper, a reverse commuter,
reported outbound traffic is getting heavier but still going 80 mph, inbound backs up to
Albertville. The need for 6 lanes and the light rail was mentioned. Currently, express
buses run from Rogers.and Elk River. Perhaps, a citizen action group or the Wright
County Mayor's Association should address this.
It was requested to add the topics of BRE survey and I -94 traffic to the upcoming IDC
agendas.
5. Review the draft copv of the November 1. 2005 PlanninLy Commission Agenda for
industrial related items. Discuss and vote on an IDC position or action if necessary.
(Open and Outdoor Storage meeting_- Tuesday, November 8, 3:00 p.m.FPC Dec])
Tapper expressed he received the notice of the meeting, and noted staff and the
committee are close to an agreement and felt a mutual agreement could be reached.
(TCDC -Not on Nov PC - incomplete, requires drainage and utility information)
6. Other Business.
A. Chamber Updates - Chair Sue Struckness reported the Chamber would wrap -up
the year with a German theme banquet on December 5 in the Mississippi Room.
About 110 people attended the IDC Luncheon.
B. Feedback of Industrial & Business Development Banquet. Discussed earlier.
C. Next IDC meeting - Tuesday, December 6, 2005.
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IDC Minutes -11/01/2005
7. Adjournment.
The IDC meeting adjourned. at 8:15 a.m. by a consensus of the membership.
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Ollie Koropchak, Recorder
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