IEDC Minutes 06-04-2013MINUTES
MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC)
Tuesday, June 4, 2013 - 7:00 a.m., Mississippi Room
Present: Joni Pawelk, Wayne Elam, Luke Dahlheimer, Rich Harris, Patrick Thompson, Bill
Tapper, Dick Van Allen, Don Roberts, Mary Barger, Tara Thurber
Absent: Tim O'Connor, Dan Olson, Zona Gutzwiller, Jim Johnson
Others: Clint Herbst, Glen Posusta
1. CaR to order
Joni Pawelk called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m.
2. Apiprove Minutes
DON ROBERTS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MAY 7, 2013 IEDC MEETING
MINUTES. PAT THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 10 -0.
3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda None
4. Rel2orts
a. Economic Development Report
Staff provided verbal updates and responded to questions about issues summarized
in the written report.
b. IEDC Membership /Business Retention and Report - No update
C. City Council
i. FiberNet Monticello (FNM) - FiberNet General Manager Mark Pultusker
said that, although FNM doesn't provide 2417 services like TDS or Charter,
it is able to offer hands on, local support and a secure network. FNM will
kick off a new division, FiberNet Business, to address the misperception
that FiberNet is a residential service. Rather than expending capital to
expand its footprint, FNM will focus on monetizing existing assets by
utilizing its infrastructure to sell capacity to others. Costs have been
reduced through staff restructuring, revised customer service processes, and
automation efficiencies. Existing contracts are being renegotiated. In an
effort to establish a more consistent revenue stream, FNM plans to offer
term agreements and an additional fee option for 2 hour service response.
Pultusker said that FNM will be operationally self sufficient by June 2014.
Jeff O'Neill pointed out that the City's initial subsidies to FNM had created
a competitive local market for lower cost, high performance telecom. He
also noted that FNM attracted 1660 customers without utilizing the more
aggressive door -to -door marketing approach of its competitors.
ii. WWTF — The City Council approved the development of a new drying
process for the Waste Water Treat Facility.
iii. Pathway Construction — Pathway construction on the west side of town
should be completed by July 1 st.
iv. Fallon Avenue/7h Street — City Council will consider approving a property
appraisal and authorizing funds to purchase the parcel from St. Henry's
Church. The parcel is to be used as a bridge landing for the Fallon Avenue
Overpass. Two roundabout designs are among options developed for the 7a'
Street alignment.
v Second River Crossing — Staff and City officials plan to meet one on one
with Sherburne County and area city and township leadership and
stakeholders to provide an update about second river crossing options and
determine a strategy for involvement as the project moves forward.
vi. Census Classification - Monticello and Big Lake are now defined by the
census as an urban statistical area. This status determines how state roads
are classified but does not have an impact on funding.
C. Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Tara Thurber noted that 70 participants had
signed up to participate in Walk n Roll. The event is scheduled from 9am -12pm on
Saturday, June 15t.
d. TAC— Transportation projects continue to move forward. It is anticipated that
completion of the Fallon Avenue Overpass may help to spur area interest in
pursuing a second river crossing.
5. Adion
DICK VAN HEEL MOVED TO ADJOURN THE JUNE 4, 2013 IEDC MEETING AT
8 A.M. PAT THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 10 -0.
Recorder: Kerry Burri
Approved: August 6, 2013
Attest:
Development Director