IDC Minutes 08-03-2004MINUTES
MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, August 3, 2004 - 7:00 a.m.
Academy Room - 505 Walnut Street
MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chair Dan Olson, Mary Barger, Dick Van Allen, Mike
Benedetto, Barb Schwientek, Tom Feaski, Lynne Dahl, and Paul
Kleinwachter.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Chair Tom Lindquist, Bill Tapper, Tom Ollig, Don Roberts, Kelli
Huxford, and Don Tomann.
COUNCIL LIAISON ABSENT: Mayor Bruce Thielen.
STAFF PRESENT: Ollie Koropchak.
IDC MISSION STATEMENT: To maintain and increase the industrial tax base and to
create jobs in the City of Monticello, Minnesota.
1. Call to Order. (Please read the minutes and information prior to the meeting.)
Vice Chair Olson called the IDC meeting to order at 7:02 a.m. declaring a quorum.
2. Vote to approve the June 1, 2004 IDC minutes.
Dick Van Allen made a motion to approve the June 1, 2004 IDC Minutes. Seconded by
Barb Schwientek and with no corrections or additions, the minutes were approved as
written.
Follow-up and discussion of the Citv Council action to authorize a purchase agreement for
acquisition of industrial land.
A. Re-Zoning At the July 12, 2004 Council meeting, the council approved a B-4 zone
and on July 26, 2004, the council approved a Comp Plan amendment for 60+ acres of
Otter Creek Crossing. Koropchak noted the attached recommendation by the IDC to
the Planning Commission.
B. Status of the Purchase Agreement.
Koropchak noted the Small Industrial Group met with Chadwick, Bilotta, and Bret
Weiss in June and agreed to a new boundary line for the southwesterly approximate
I4-acre parcel and agreed the first 35 acres for purchase to be in the far northwesterly
corner along Chelsea Road and near County Road 39. The Council previously
established the Chelsea Road alignment as going through the Rask property. IDC
members received a copy of a map defining the new boundary of the approximate 14
acres as defined by Chadwick. Kleinwachter asked, why the 35-acres to the far
IDC Minutes - 08/03/04
northwest? The reason for the change by the Small Group was due to the new
boundary line of the 14 acres, the City no longer has direct access via the Haul Road to
90`" Street and the most easterly property to the south of Chelsea Road is wet lands.
A new map dated March 2004 was submitted with the Purchase Agreement which was
different from the September 2003 map used for negotiations. Within the new map, the
Haul Road was re-aligned to the north reducing the amount of city owned land to
market at the point of entrance at 90t" Street via the Haul Road and westerly. The City
sees completion of Chelsea Road as a benefit; however, Koropchak noted timing is a
concern as completion of Chelsea Road to County Road 39 needs to be completed for
accessibility and marketability. Things yet to be completed: Purchase of Rask property
by City and execution of Assessment Agreement by Chadwick. Koropchak informed
the committee of conversations with Elk River inquiring into "how Monticello was able
to convince Council to purchase land for industrial development and how financed" as
they have similar situation with private land owners and Big Lake recruiting industries
from Elk River due to reduced land costs. Koropchak reported she's heard Big Lake
has presented an attractive package to recruit Dahlheimer Distribution. City of
Cambridge is now marketing 55-acres of a City owned industrial park. They received
Federal funding for infrastructure and have JOBZ designation. Dick Van Allen made a
motion recommending the Small Industrial Group lobby Council members to
request WSB, Inc. and staff to place the closing for the acquisition of the
approximately 120 acres of Chadwick property as high priority completing
necessary negotiations for Rask property and Assessment Agreement and setting
a closing date of September 1, 2004. Paul Kleinwachter seconded the motion and
with no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously. Reasons for motion:
Recent re-zoning of approximate 120-140 acres of industrial land within City limits to
commercial (Dahlheimer/Bondus, Monticello Market Place, and Chadwick), limited
amount of small parcels for sale, and neighbor community recruitment of Dahlheimer
Distribution.
C. Discuss letter from United Properties for recommendation.
Koropchak noted she had accompanied United Properties in touring various sites for
future industrial development much the same as the Small Industrial Group had done.
United Properties came to the same conclusion that the Chadwick property makes the
most sense and several times mentioned of their interest to partner with the City. The
letter offers to market and develop the property, serve as an consultant, or purchase the
Chadwick property. Koropchak noted she received a phone call from United
Properties on August 2, 2004, relative to an update on the purchase of the Chadwick
property. The following comments were made by the IDC: The City will fill-up
the park within five years given interest rates and the economy remain favorable,
why increase the city's cost, and a partnership would defeat the initial purpose of
the HRA/IDC goals. The general consensus of the IDC was for the City to move
forward as originally planned to purchase, market, and sell the Chadwick
property.
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IDC Minutes - 08/03/04
4. City Updates:
A. Annexation.
Koropchak noted no new information since the newly executed Orderly Annexation
documents were submitted to the State Commission for final approval. The city
expects to hear from the State in August/September.
B. Meeting o,_ f city officials to set 2004 Council's Community Vision & Governing Policies.
In the absence of Wolfsteller and O'Neill, no update was given.
C. Proposed I-94 and County Rd 18 interchange and I-94 re-ali ng ment• The Council will
review the finance plan for the proposed ramps and interchange at a special meeting of
August 9 at 5:00 p.m. Benedetto reported that the closing of the County Road 18
bridge for construction of a new 4-lane bridge will take place May-December 2005.
Traffic will be re-routed via a new constructed road extending Meadow Oak Avenue
to County Road 18. Two signal lights are planned to the south of I-94 on County
Road 18 at the ramp/Chelsea Road (immediately) and at School Blvd (future).
D. Commercial/residential developments
In the absence of Wolfsteller and O'Neill, no update was given.
5. Reports:
A. Economic Development Report -Accepted at written.
B. Marketing Subcommittee. Accepted as presented.
6. Review the draft copy of the August 3, 2004 Planning Commission Agenda for industrial
related items. Discuss and vote on an IDC position or action if necessary.
With no industrial related items on the August 3 Planning Commission Agenda, the IDC took
no action. With the absence of O'Neill, no detail information of agenda items was discussed.
7. Other Business.
A. Chamber Updates - Feaski reported the monthly Chamber meeting of August 19 will
be held at Silver Springs Golf Course at noon. Susie and Marie continued to work with
the Governor's office for a commitment of the Governor as guest speaker for the
Industrial Banquet. If a commitment is received, it would be a noon luncheon. The
Chamber hosted the Taste of Minnesota luncheon at the Rand Mansion, staffed a booth
at Taste of Minnesota in July where some volunteers put in 18 hours, and participated
in Riverfest. The Chamber sponsors Art in the Park on Saturday and noted the success
of the first-time event at Pioneer Park which included a display of antique cars. This
Thursday event was well attended by Monticello residents.
B. Next IDC meeting, Tuesday, September 7, 2004
C. Request from Don Tomann -Members received a copy of the letter from Don
Tomann, UMC, requesting a leave of absence from the IDC due to health related
issues. Mary Barger made a motion to accept the request for a leave of absence
and requested a response letter be drafted and mailed to Don. Seconded by Dick
Van Allen and with no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously.
IDC Minutes - 08/03/04
8. Adjournment.
Dick Van Allen made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Mary Barger and
with no further business, the IDC meeting adjourned at 8:00 a. m.
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Ollie Koropchak, Recorder
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