IDC Minutes 12-06-2005MINUTES
MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 7:00 a.m.
Academy Room -Monticello Community Center
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Dan Olson, Vice Chair Paul Kleinwachter, BillTapper, Dick Van
Allen, Don Roberts, Mike Benedetto, Barb Schwientek, Lynne Dahl,
Tom Feaski, and Sue Struckness.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Tom Lindquist, Mary Barger, Don Tomann, and Kelli Huxford.
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.)
IDC Chair Olson called the IDC meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. declaring a quorum.
Vote to approve the November I, 2005 IDC minutes.
Patal Kleinwachter made a motion to approve the November 1, 2005 IDC minutes.
Seconded by Bill Tapper and with no corrections or additions, the minutes were approved
as written.
Mayor's City Update:
A. Proposed I-94 and County Road l 8 Interchange Project.
1. Status of Council negotiations with AVR. Mayor Herbst reported they met with AVR
to discuss final building design. No dollar amounts were discussed but their building
design was not acceptable. AVR will rework numbers and then be back; otherwise, goes
through the court system. No final decision on the Monticello Business Center site.
2. Status of I-94/County Rd l 8 interchan~:e construction. Construction is ahead of
schedule. Mayor was unclear if construction would stop during the cold season.
B. Status of YMCA property.
An appraisal of the property is being conducted by YMCA.
C. Fiber Option Task Force. Wayne Mayer reported the Council will be asked to approve
the RFP at their meeting on December 12. The RFP details optional partnership roles.
The City of Monticello is being watched by technology people and the Legislation as a
leader in presuming of broadband fiber optics. Responding to the questions of economic
feasibility of fiber optic versus wireless, Mayer said it depends upon the partnership role.
A wireless supplement does not have speed.
D. Other. None.
4. A. Vote to accept Letter of Termination from Tom Lindquist. Having read the attached
• letter from Mr. Lindquist, Mike Benedetto made a motion to accept the letter of
termination from Tom Lindquist noting his suggestion for a replacement. The
IDC Minutes - 12/06/05
motion included a request to prepare a letter of thanks to Tom. Paul Kleinwachter
seconded the motion and with no further discussion, the motion carried.
B. Review term dates and professions of IDC membership. Koropchak noted the attached
membership list identifies terms and membership. Those whose terms expire in 2005,
please contact Koropchak or the IDC Chair of interest in another 3-year term. An
attendance report with be compiled for the next meeting.
C. ~~~est membership committee of IDC Chair. Vice Chair and Koropchak to meet to
discuss 2006 membership. The IDC agreed that the Membership Committee of the
Olson, Kleinwachter, and Koropchak meet to discuss for recommendation at the January
annual meeting proposed new member(s). The attached letter of interest in IDC
membership from Zona Gutzwiller was noted.
D. Follow-up discussion on industrial surveys and traffic for development of 2006 IDC
oat is/objectives. Attached within the agenda was a copy of the survey used by Bill
Blazer who reported results at the IDC Luncheon. Also attached was a copy of the
survey prepared and used by IDC members on their BRE visits. Should a local survey be
developed and conducted relative to operational questions? Koropchak noted two
manufacturer's were highlighted in the City's newsletter and labels provided for all
manufacturing businesses. Because some IDC members do not use city water/sewer
services, they do not receive the newsletter. It was requested to add the IDC labels also.
Members again talked about traffic topics for discussion in 2006: I-94 to 6-lanes, third
interchange, round-abouts, upgrade of Highway 25 south to Buffalo, light rail and potential
lobbying partnerships. Given the input, the Membership Committee will prepare a list of
2006 goals for recommendation to the membership in January. Roberts suggested the
IDC start thinking about the next land area for industrial development or replacement
with Mayor Herbst's concurring.
Reports:
A. Economic Development Report. In addition to the written report, Koropchak noted that
Dahlheimer's did not close by the end of November and License Agreement was
extended to December 9, 2005. The closing is planned for today or tomorrow. She will
also reschedule a visit with the Albertville business interested in the Monticello Business
Center property. Koropchak again congratulated Sunny Fresh for receiving the 2005
Malcolm Baldrige Award of Excellence. Don Roberts thanked the Mayor and
Koropchak for attending the press release.
6. Review the draft copy of the December 6, 2005 Planning Commission Agenda for industrial
related items. Discuss and vote on an IDC position or action if necessary
The IDC discussed. and made no recommendations to two industrial items on the Planning
Commission agenda for December. The first, a public Hearing for request of a variance to allow
fora 11,760 sq ft detached accessory building in a I-2 District from applicant, Walbord, Inc.
Their request is to increase the 30% accessory use to 49% accessory use for commercial or
business buildings. Current ordinance for accessory use is 30% of gross floor space of the
principal use. The existing principal use is 52,008 sq ft (15,602 sq ft - 30% accessory use limit.)
The existing accessory structure is 6,330 sq ft. They are constructing an accessory structure of
9,240 sq ft and would like to add an additional 2,520 sq ft to the building for a total of l 1,760 sq ft.
Combining the existing 6,330 sq ft and proposed 11,760 sq ft, the total accessory use would be
l 8,090 sq ft. Agenda recommendation is to deny the variance based on the findings the applicant
currently has reasonable use of the property without a variance, that the variance is grounded in
economic concerns, and that other expansions can be constructed on the property without
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variance.
The second public hearing for an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance for setbacks in the I-1 and
I-2 Districts. The applicant is the City of Monticello. The request is to amend the side yard
setbacks from 30 feet to 15 feet. This amendment would not affect fire code requirements for
additional setback based on building type. Architects will have to account for fire code when they
design buildings with lesser side setbacks. Agenda recommendation is to approve the amendment
based on finding that the amendment will grant greater use of industrial property and may also
result in upgraded site and building plans.
The Outdoor Storage Group is scheduled to meet this afternoon. That item scheduled for the
January Planning Commission meeting.
7. Other Business.
A. Chamber Updates -Chair Sue Struckness thanked the IDC members for the year and
found the IDC meetings to be of great interest. She estimated 172 people attended their
annual banquet and the Chamber now has 262 members. She expressed her appreciation
for Koropchak's attendance at most Chamber Board meeting and said Michele Hertwig,
2006 Chamber President, would be attending the IDC meetings starting in January. She
noted the Chamber will hold an Expo in February, either the 4`" or 5th.
B. Next IDC meeting (Annual meeting-election of officers) -Tuesday, January 3, 2006.
Adjournment.
The IDC meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m.
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Ollie Koropchak, Recorder~~~~-
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