EDA Minutes 01-09-2013MINUTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA)
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 - 6:00 p.m.
Commissioners Present: President Bill Demeules, Vice President Bill Tapper, Treasurer Tracy
Hinz, Matt Frie, Rod Dragsten, and Council Members Tom Perrault and Brian Stumpf
Staff: Executive Director Jeff O'Neill, Angela Schumann, Wayne Oberg
1. Call to Order
President Bill Demeules called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Approve Meeting Minutes
a. October 10`x', 2012 Regular Meeting Minutes
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO APPROVE THE OCTOBER 10TH, 2012 REGULAR
EDA MEETING MINUTES AS CORRECTED. BRIAN STUMPF SECONDED THE
MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 5 -0. (Bill Demeules and Tracy Hinz abstained.)
b. November 14`x', 2012 Regular Meeting Minutes
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 14TH, 2012 REGULAR
EDA MEETING MINUTES. MATT FRIE SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION
CARRIED 6 -0. (Bill Demeules abstained.)
c. December 12t ", 2012 Regular Meeting Minutes
ROD DRAGSTEN MOVED TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 12TH, 2012
REGULAR EDA MEETING MINUTES. MATT FRIE SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED 4 -0. (Bill Tapper, Brian Stumpf and Tracy Hinz abstained.)
3. Consideration of additional agenda items None
4. Consideration of approving payment of bills
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF BILLS THROUGH
DECEMBER 2012. TRACY HINZ SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
7 -0.
Tom Perrault asked about the nearly $2,000 in penalties related to Wright County property
taxes. Jeff O'Neill agreed to look into the issue.
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5. Consideration of EDA Commissioner Appointment Schedule
Staff had previously noted that the EDA commissioner term schedule should be corrected
so that all terms are appropriately staggered as required in the bylaws. The length of the
terms served by Commissioners Rod Dragsten and Matt Frie will be reviewed and
adjusted. Bill Derneules agreed to further clarify this issue and report back to the EDA.
6. Consideration to appoint EDA Commissioners to EDA - Council Purchase /Sale
Negotiations Team
Jeff O'Neill underlined the importance of quickly and effectively responding to land
acquisition and sale proposals presented to the EDA. He pointed out the value of
establishing a team with representation from both the EDA and City Council in order to
more readily address opportunities and concerns. He recommended that the EDA formally
appoint two members to a joint EDA - Council team which would be responsible for the
initial response, research and negotiations associated with any EDA - related land
acquisition or land sale proposal. The full EDA would then consider the team's
recommendation, formally act to establish a negotiation range, and take action on the final
acquisition or sale offer.
Bill Demeules noted that he, Bill Tapper, Clint Herbst and Lloyd Hilgart had been acting in
this capacity on an informal basis as such issues had emerged. He suggested that it might
be useful to develop some operating guidelines for the formal team. He indicated that it
would provide greater flexibility for the EDA to regularly plan for the option of conducting
a closed meeting following scheduled EDA meetings. He pointed out that item 9 in the
agenda was such a meeting.
Brian Stumpf clarified that he and Tom Perrault would not be involved in a negotiations
team as they are members of the EDA as well as the City Council. Rod Dragsten stated
that, although would be interested in participating in a team, he felt confident that Bill
Demeules and Bill Tapper would continue to do a good job in representing the EDA.
Matt Frie asked if there were any legal issues that should be considered prior to
establishing a formal joint negotiations team. Jeff O'Neill agreed to check with the City
Attorney.
TRACY HINZ MOVED TO APPOINT EDA COMMISSIONERS BILL DEMEULES
AND BILL TAPPER TO THE EDA -CITY COUNCIL PURCHASE NEGOTIATIONS
TEAM PENDING APPROVAL BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. ROD DRAGSTEN
SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 7 -0.
7. Consideration of Director's Report
EDA/CC Workshop — Several dates in late January and early February were suggested as
options for rescheduling the joint EDA /CC goal setting workshop. Staff will confirm
Economic Development Authority Minutes — 01/09/13
whether or not Monday, January 281h after 5:30 p.m. would be a workable plan.
Montgomery Farms Building - Jeff O'Neill stated that the City has continued to work to
pay appropriate tenant relocation fees while still protecting City interests. He confirmed
that the City would no longer be responsible for the cost of the building's utilities after the
end of the month.
McCombs Reports - Tom Perrault noted that the design for Block 34 looked different. Matt
Frie asked about the funding proposed for improving the intersection at County Highway
75 and State Highway 25. Jeff O'Neill indicated that outside funding assistance priorities
had now shifted from construction costs to maintenance costs. Matt Frie said that he'd
rather the EDA focus on other projects rather than pay totally out of pocket for this project.
Jeff O'Neill stated that the analysis of the anchor block would be discussed in a future work
session. He indicated that it has now been determined that it would require a significant
investment, beyond what is generated by TIF, to ready the site for a tenant on the anchor
block.
Ace Hardware will remain in its current location.
8. Adjournment
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING AT 6:37 P.M.
TOM PERRAULT SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 7 -0.
9. Closed meetine - Land Acquisition Ne¢otiations
The EDA moved to a closed meeting following the regular meeting.
Recorder: Kerry T. Burri —L Y
Approved: February 13, 2013
Attest:
Jeff VW1, Executive Director