IEDC Minutes 03-01-2011IEDC Minutes 03/01/11
MONTICELLO
INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC)
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
7:00 a.m., Mississippi
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Rich Harris, Vice Chair Luke Dahlheimer, Bill Tapper, Dick
Van Allen, Dan Olson, Zona Gutzwiller, Wayne Elam, Joni Pawelk,
Wes Olson
MEMBERS ABSENT: Patrick Thompson, Elaine DeWenter, Chris Kruse, Don Roberts
LIASIONS PRESENT: Sandy Suchy, Chamber
Clint Herbst, Mayor
LIASaGNS ABSENT: Glen Posusta, City Council
STAFF PRESENT: Economic Development Director Megan Barnett - Livgard, City
Administrator Jeff O'Neill
1. Call to Order
4
3.
Rich Harris called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m.
Approve Minutes
WAYNE ELAM MOVED TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 1, 2011 MINUTES AS
AMENDED. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY LUKE DAHLHEIMER. MOTION
CARRIED 9 -0.
Consideration of adding items to the Agenda None
4. Reports
a. Economic Develo ment
The EDA will again be discussing the potential purchase of the 13.6 acre Chadwick
property, located adjacent to the Monticello Business Center at their March meeting.
The City received an inquiry from a business in Elk River looking to expand and
potentially relocate to Monticello. Staff hopes to meet to tour their facility in early
March.
City staff and the McComb Group met in February to review preliminary design
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concepts for the Embracing Downtown Project. The Steering Committee will review
the design concepts on March 15th and Downtown Stakeholders will review the design
on March 29th. The report will be presented for community input in April.
b. City Council
1. FiberNet
Mayor Clint Herbst reported that Jerry Olson is the new interim General Manager
at FiberNet replacing Don Patton. Both men are experienced HBC employees
contracting with the City for their expertise in telecommunications. The transition
will not affect FiberNet operations and a permanent General Manager will be hired
at some point.
2. Street Reconstruction
The Street Reconstruction project segment currently underway involves the East
side of River Street from CSAH 75 to Interstate 94. There was brief discussion
about the need to create a better intersection.
3. Public Works Equipment Tour
The City Council members visited Public Works to take a look at various pieces of
equipment due to be replaced. The City had been cutting back on equipment
replacement for a time but determined certain equipment is in need of replacement
due to continual maintenance. These costs are included in the budget.
4. Bertram Chain of Lakes Grant
The City will submit a grant application for recreational fields for the next two
parcels when further development plans are in place. The Minnesota Youth Soccer
Association (MYSA) board met to determine their level of interest in establishing a
soccer facility on the City's sludge field just north of the Bertram Park. If approved
by their board, the MYSA would present the idea to their membership for input.
This may strengthen the City's grant applications for the Bertram Park property.
5. Additional Updates
Flood: The City doesn't anticipate any serious flooding problems. Staff is
preparing to respond when appropriate.
Goal Setting: The City will be participating in a broad goal setting process.
Department Heads and City Boards and Commissions will submit proposed goals
for review by City Council. Council will meet to discuss and rank these goals for
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implementation priority.
Wastewater Treatment: The City is required to make plant upgrades by 2017.
Wastewater treatment blueprints have been drawn up for expansion. There are
many issues yet to be resolved regarding landfill, sludge storage options, and
sharing costs with Cargill - a major City water user. The potential MYSA project on
the sludge field would certainly determine the pace at which improvements would
need to be made.
c. Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The Chamber will host the State of the City luncheon at River City Extreme on March
15th. IEDC members are also invited to participate in Business Day at the Capital
scheduled for March 16th
5. BR &E
a. Update on Projects
1. Downtown River Group
The Downtown River Group has been researching ways to incorporate the river
into local events and promotions. Kevin Sorenson from Riverwood Bank met with
staff to develop recreation on the river programs such as canoeing or kayaking for
this summer.
2. Transportation
Staff asked for volunteers interested in participating in a Transportation Task Force
established to move forward studies related to the adopted Transportation Plan.
Both Mayor Clint Herbst and IEDC Vice Chair Luke Dahlheimer agreed to consult
their calendars for availability to participate.
3. Communication
The Economic Development website, Building Business in Monticello, has been
further enhanced. The Concierge page has added resources including information
about the availability of local meeting rooms and higher education facilities in the
area.
b. Next Steps
Staff will meet with BR &E groups to ensure that each continues to make progress on
their assigned projects.
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6. Concierge Team
a. Breakfast with Mayor /Administrator
1. Midwest Precision Machine, Suburban Manufacturing, Aeroplax
The Mayor and City Administrator have had various monthly breakfast meetings to
strengthen connections with business community.
b. All Elements Site Tour Scheduled for March 2nd at 9am
The Concierge Team plans to tour the All Elements business this month.
c. Resource ug ide (web /print)
Staff introduced Concierge postcards to be used as local marketing flyers.
d. Word on the STREET?
Sandy Suchy noted that the flower shop in town, Paeonia, is looking for a buyer. Luke
Dahlheimer agreed to connect staff with someone who'd contacted him about
potentially starting a business in Monticello.
e. Expansion — Site Review Meetings
Three businesses plan to do industrial expansions this year. The legislature is working
to extend the July 1St deadline for utilizing TIF financing.
7. Begin Discussing Merits of a Second Industrial Park
Staff asked the IEDC to begin to consider Monticello's future industrial needs. There was
some discussion about the amount of land currently zoned Industrial, guided Industrial,
and Industrial Business Campus (IBC). The EDA prefers that the Monticello Business
Park remain zoned Light Industrial. IBC zoned property integrates industrial users with
commercial users.
Staff noted that, although there are some 30 -35 acres of developable land in the industrial
park, it is not a contiguous piece of property and is difficult to sell. The City has begun to
notice a pattern of inquiries looking for some 50 acres of land. This represents a very
different shift in the demand for developable land.
Jeff O'Neill indicated that there are a few larger parcels in Monticello which might be
considered for such industrial needs. Each would involve significant public investment to
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make parcels developable. Staff noted that there are federal infrastructure grants available.
There was brief consideration of the issues surrounding each site.
The Spike property, about 80 acres of land, adjacent to Monticello Business Park, would
likely be the most readily developable in terms of utilities and sales price. It might be best
suited for IBC zoning as it is close to Bertram Park. It does not have easy access to the
interstate however.
The area south of Featherstone on Highway 25 would provide hundreds of acres in an
easily accessed location but utilities would need to be extended.
The original heritage development is also a large parcel of land which could be utilized as
industrial.
There seemed to be a consensus that there is a need to further discuss the option of a second
industrial park in Monticello as the City would need to be prepared to accommodate
industrial growth to come.
8. Adjournment
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 8:24 AM. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY
LUKE DAHLHEIMER. MOTION CARRIED 9 -0.
Recorder: Kerry T. Burri
Approved: April 5, 2011
Attest: AWv
Veg'an �&ett-Yivgard, conomle frelopment Director