IEDC Minutes 10-04-2011MINUTES
MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC)
Tuesday, October 4, 20117:00 a.m., Boom Island
MEMBERS PRESENT: Bill Tapper, Dick Van Allen, Dan Olson, Zona Gutzwiller, Wayne
Elam, Joni Pawelk, Don Roberts
MEMBERS ABSENT: Chair Rich Harris, Vice Chair Luke Dahlheimer, Patrick Thompson,
Elaine DeWenter, Chris Kruse, and Wes Olson
LIASIONS PRESENT: Sandy Suchy, Chamber
Glen Posusta, City Council
LIASIONS ABSENT: Clint Herbst, Mayor
STAFF PRESENT: Economic Development Director Megan Barnett - Livgard, City
Administrator Jeff O'Neill, Ben Ranft, Brett DeMarais
OTHERS: Chuck Rickert, WSB
1. Call to Order
2.
3.
4.
Don Roberts called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m.
Approve Minutes
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 2, 2011 MINUTES. MOTION
WAS SECONDED BY WAYNE ELAM. MOTION CARRIED 7 -0.
Consideration of adding items to the Agenda None
Reports
a. Economic Development
Industry of year event. Committee members were asked to make personal phone calls
to all local manufacturers to ensure good attendance at the Industry of the Year event
scheduled for October 19th
Embracing Downtown: The final public open house before the document goes to the
Planning Commission and City Council for approval is scheduled for Monday, October
24ei from 5:30 -7pm in the Community Center.
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b. City Council
Approved Fallon Ave. office building rezoning:
The City Council approved the rezoning request for the property on the
corner of Chelsea and Fallon to B -4. This will provide an opportunity to
different kind of tenants.
2. Old Ford Dealership:
The old Ford dealership is in the process of selling to new owners. Staff will
provide further updates upon receipt of an application.
3. Waste Water Treatment Plant:
Staff have been researching the upgrading of the system at the wastewater
treatment plant to allow further drying of the waste product so it could be
landfilled. New technology looks to be very. The upgrade is required to be
completed by 2012.
4. MCC Facility Improvements:
The Monticello Community Center building repair and upgrade project is
moving forward and will be initiated in the Spring.
c. Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Sandy Suchy reported that the MN Chamber had met at 25 different locations
throughout the state to identify critical issues for busiensses. Issues identified were:
budget reform, education, energy, environmental permitting, health care and tax
reform. State and Federal reports are available for review. The Monticello Chamber
will be visiting businesses this year as part of its focus on Grow MN. The October
Business Expo was well- attended.
d. FiberNet
General Manager Ben Ranft and Sales Manager Brett DeMarais provided a FiberNet
report. FiberNet now serves 90 local businesses. Staff is waiting to hear back from 18
additional businesses considering establishing service in the next month. Monticello is
fully hard wired now and drops to specific locations are handled as requested.
The School Board had asked FiberNet to provide internet access to the Monticello
School District. In order to more cost - effectively service the school district FiberNet
has been looking into developing an air product with some assistance from a SE MN
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cable company which provides wireless point to point internet. The wireless network
will run from the direct wired water tower and reach an eight mile radius. Pricing is
competitive and there are no contracts. This will open FiberNet up to a whole new set
of customers. FiberNet has met with Monticello Township, Big Lake and Big Lake
Township to let them know about the expanded services. The first antennas will serve
210 customers. There are 19 water towers within range of the Monticello water tower
so there is a lot of potential to bounce signals to serve additional wireless customers.
The marketing plan will be to target customers with material on a door hanger.
Jeff O'Neill pointed out that the Wright County Administration Group and the Wright
County Economic Development Partnership have each asked for help in providing
better telecommunications access for their communities.
5. Concierge Team
a. Breakfast with Mayor /Administrator
Walker In Store is interested in scheduling a breakfast in the near future.
b. Site visits
Staff expects to schedule a tour of Precision Technology in October. Aroplax has
completed its building addition and has scheduled a tour of the facility for November.
c. Word on the Street?
This item was not specifically discussed.
6. Industry of the Year Selection
The award subcommittee gathered information from the following local companies:
Aroplax, Standard Iron, Bondhus, WSI, and Suburban Manufacturing. City staff created a
nomination survey that included questions about their business. A letter explaining the
Industry of the Year Award and reason for survey was sent to each of the above businesses.
The committee reviewed the responses and recommended the IEDC consider Aroplax. or
WSI as the 2011 Industry of the Year ward recipient. Committee members pointed out the
strengths of each business. After some consideration, the IEDC voted to nominate Aroplax
as the Industry of the Year. The Committee was encouraged to attend the 2011 Industry of
the Year breakfast in support of local businesses scheduled for October 19th at 7:30 am.
7. Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)
The City Council had authorized WSB and Associates to complete several transportation
studies to assist the City in determining the preferred alignments for a proposed second
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Mississippi River Crossing and the Fallon Avenue Overpass.
Chuck Rickart of WSB provided the IEDC with an update on the preliminary findings of
the origin and destination study to determine the distribution of traffic on TH 25
specifically crossing the river.
Second River Crossing
62% of the traffic crossing the river is considered local (Monticello or Big Lake). The
bridge currently accommodates 30,000 cars per day. That number is expected to increase to
45,000 cars per day in 2030 if another river crossing is not constructed. The three
alternatives for a proposed second river crossing are: Orchard Road, Washington Street,
and CSAH 18. WSB provided statistics projecting the resulting levels of traffic on the
existing bridge by 2030 should each alternative be built. Construction of the Washington
Street river crossing option would provide the most relief for traffic.
Fallon Avenue Overpass
Construction of a Fallon Avenue Overpass for Interstate 94 is also a key transportation plan
component which would serve as an alternative I -94 crossing to TH 25 and CSAH 18.
The study data shows that 70 % -80% of traffic on Fallon Avenue is heading to or coming
from the north and west.
Year 2030 traffic projections show 11,000 vehicles a day using the Fallon Avenue
overpass, whereas 10,000 vehicles a day will be using 7th Street east of Fallon Avenue, and
15,000 vehicles a day will be using 7th Street west of Fallon Avenue. Traffic projections
would be relatively well balanced at this intersection.
Chuck Rickart briefly highlighted concept plans for the proposed Fallon Avenue alignment
and how each would intersect with 7th Street:
• Connecting to 7th Street north of I -94 at the location previously constructed
• Realigning Fallon Avenue north of I -94 to form a direct, in -line connection to 7th
Street west of Fallon
• Constructing a roundabout at the intersection of Fallon Avenue and 7th Street
• Realigning Fallon Avenue north of I -94 to create more of a linear connection with
Washington Street
The IEDC asked questions about possible development transitions for these project
alternatives as well as options for maximizing economic development along the chosen
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corridor. Staff asked for input regarding the draft concept plans for these two projects.
8. BR &E Wrap Up
This item was not specifically discussed.
9. Adiournment
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 8:30 AM. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY
WAYNE ELAM. MOTION CARRIED 7 -0.
Recorder: Kerry T. Burri _k1b
Approved: November 1, 20 V�6An� Attest:
egan a ett -ll gard, Economic Devel ment Director