IEDC Minutes 05-01-2012MINUTES
MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC)
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 - 7:00 a.m., Boom Island Room
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Luke Dahlheimer, Vice Chair Joni Pawelk, Patrick
Thompson, Bill Tapper, Dick Van Allen, Dan Olson, Wayne Elam,
Jim Johnson, Don Roberts
MEMBERS ABSENT: Rich Harris, Zona Gutzwiller, Wes Olson, Chris Kruse, Tim
O'Connor
LIASIONS PRESENT: Sandy Suchy, Chamber
Glen Posusta, City Council
Clint Herbst, Mayor
STAFF PRESENT: Economic Development Director Megan Barnett - Livgard, City
Administrator Jeff O'Neill
1. Call to Order
2.
3.
4.
Chair Luke Dahlheimer called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m.
Approve Minutes
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO APPROVE THE MARCH 6, 2012 MINUTES. MOTION
WAS SECONDED BY WAYNE ELAM. MOTION CARRIED 9 -0.
Consideration of addin14 items to the A14enda
• New River Medical Center
Reports
a) Economic Development
• Broker Tour - City staff organized a bus tour to showcase the many amenities in the
city. Embracing Downtown Monticello consultants joined City officials to provide
numerous area brokers, bankers, and Greater MSP representatives with information
about local economic development opportunities.
• Logo - Monticello's new logo was recently approved by City Council. The initial
transition to the new logo involves changing letterhead, business cards, and apparel.
Staff will devise an economic development strategy for marketing the new brand to
IEDC Minutes 5/01/12
brokers and developers.
• Student Government Group - School Superintendent Jim Johnson will assist City
staff in exploring opportunities for students to obtain classroom credit for attending
local government meetings. Additionally, the IEDC plans to tour the STEM classes
at the high school in the fall.
Request by John Chadwick to Purchase Property — Property Owner John Chadwick
approached the City Council to determine the City's interest in purchasing the
19 -acre parcel he owns on Chelsea Road off of I -94. The City Council asked that the
EDA consider this option. The EDA decided it was not interested in purchasing the
property for a second industrial park.
• Fred's Auto Purchase — The EDA plans to close on the purchase of property at
Fred's Auto on Broadway at the end of June. Environmental testing must be
completed to determine if the level of contamination meets grants eligibility
requirements.
• Proposed Workforce Housing: Podawiltz Development — The EDA and City
Council approved exploring the opportunity to provide workforce housing.
Podawiltz Development has proposed the construction of 36 affordable townhomes
for rent at Autumn Ridge. City Council agreed to consider a 10 -year TIF District
should this project receive key financing in the form of tax credits.
b) City Council
• Second Hi -Way Liquor Store —The City Council considered establishing a second
liquor store as a way to bring in additional local revenue. Past studies had shown
that there would be a market for a second store in the City. The current store is in
line with pricing at surrounding municipal liquor stores.
Biosolids - City Council authorized a study of a method for drying biosolids
material in an effort to eventually vacate the current biosolids site. There has been
some interest in development in that location.
FiberNet Monticello — FiberNet sales continue to grow despite aggressive pricing
and solicitation competition from Charter. City officials have put a plan in place to
increase revenues by using capacity to sell services beyond Monticello. There was
some discussion of renegotiating the interest rate on the existing debt service on
FiberNet bonds. Harvard will include Monticello in their study of municipal
broadband projects.
Fallon Avenue Overpass — City Engineer Bruce Westby has been meeting with
stakeholders affected by the planned Fallon Avenue Overpass design and will
IEDC Minutes 5/01/12
provide an update as information is available.
5. Chamber of Commerce and Industry
a) Grow MN Visits — Sandy Suchy reported on four Grow MN site visits and survey
responses. She visited Suburban Manufacturing, Bondhus, Aroplax and Standard Iron
to learn more about their businesses and to get specific input about doing business in
Monticello. Many suggested that state taxes, health care, workman's compensation,
unemployment, sales tax, and taxation in general on small businesses are issues of
concern to their business. Suchy was selected by the MN Chamber to travel to
Washington D.C. for an upcoming small business summit.
b) Regional Workforce Initiatives — The MN Workforce Center has focused on aligning
more directly with the Chamber and economic development staff. They are providing
support for a program called Preparing Youth for Tomorrow. Staff indicated that much
of the manufacturing community has not utilized the Workforce Center for their hiring
needs. Bill Tapper noted that his business has had great success utilizing the Workforce
Center. The trend in industry is to hire on a temporary basis and evaluate prior to hiring.
It may be useful for the Workforce Center to attend an IEDC meeting to share more
about their resources.
c) Government Affairs — Transportation Update (Fallon Avenue) - The Chamber is
looking for business community input related to the Fallon Avenue project prior to the
upcoming public meeting.
d) City Banners - The Chamber will be applying for grants through the Swan City Heritage
Foundation to fund new street banners with the City logo. Staff recommended using
two different banners. Suchy will review design ideas.
6. Embracing Downtown Implementation Update
The closing date for the Montgomery Farms building purchase has been delayed a week
due to lease termination agreements. Ace Hardware has outlined their interests in working
with city for the redevelopment of Block 34. Jim McComb plans to provide a project
update at the May EDA meeting. A Downtown Ambassadors group has been formed to
ensure that project information is correct and that momentum is underway. Another group
has been established to encourage the downtown businesses to contribute to the funding of
the downtown project.
7. Items Added to the Agenda
• New River Medical Center - Glen Posusta asked Joni Pawelk to provide some
information as to the ongoing issues at the hospital. She shared that there has been
significant contention between the hospital and the Monticello Clinic. Issues primarily
IEDC Minutes 5/01/12
involve business decisions related to the conversion to electronic medical records as
well as the opening the New River Physicians Clinic. She provided some background
related to these issues and outlined some of the research and reasoning behind the
hospital's decisions. There was also some discussion about the downsizing of some
hospital services and the significant loss of hospital revenues. Staff and City officials
expressed their commitment to helping the hospital thrive in the community.
8. Adiournment
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:34 A.M. MOTION WAS
SECONDED BY DON ROBERTS. MOTION CARRIED 9 -0.
Recorder:
Approved:
Attest: