April 1, 2015 Albert Lea Post Authority Minutes

By Tyler Golberg | April 1, 2015

April 1, 2015

ALBERT LEA PORT AUTHORITY

MINUTES

April 1, 2015

Regular Meeting

Albert Lea Business Development Center

 

1.     CALL TO ORDER & NOTATION OF ROLL

  • The Regular Meeting of the Albert Lea Port Authority was called to order on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 7:30 a.m. by President Kehr.  Roll was noted by the Board Secretary.
  • COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:  Vern Rasmussen, Jr., Mike Moore, Ellen Kehr, Al Brooks, and Mark Heinema
  • COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:  Ginny Larson and Nate Jansen
  • EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT:  Chad Adams, City of Albert Lea representative; Randy Kehr, business community representative; Mike Lee, Freeborn County representative
  • EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT:  None
  • STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:  Ryan Nolander, Executive Director and Julie Dandrea, Board Secretary
  • STAFF MEMBERS ABSENT:  None
  • GUESTS:  Rebecca Gisel – Alliant Energy and Mike Murtaugh – Freeborn Mower Cooperative

 

2.     APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MARCH 4, 2015 MEETING

  • The minutes from the March 4, 2015 meeting were reviewed.  Commissioner Rasmussen made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Heinemann.  President Kehr asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 5 in favor; 0 opposed.

 

3.     RESOLUTION PA-15-09 AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF CLAIMS

  • The claims were presented for review.  Commissioner Moore made a motion to accept the claims as presented in the amount of $15,595.27, seconded by Commissioner Rasmussen.  President Kehr asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 5 in favor; 0 opposed.

4.     EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Executive Director Nolander highlighted the headlined article in today’s Star Tribune regarding job vacancies being at the highest rates in Minnesota since 2001.  Discussion followed.

JOBZ Audits – A handout was reviewed with the board showing the program’s total numbers.  The capital investment now totals $58M for seven companies over the life of the program.  This has been a great program for our area and 2015 is the last year of benefits.

ALEDA Park Community Garden – The program has grown over the years and also fits along with Blue Zones’ philosophy.  A garden spot was sought out on the south side and there is a narrow lot in the ALEDA Park between the storm pond and Margaretha and has good, black dirt.  Twenty 20×20 plots would be developed here.  There is no cost or liability for the Port.  The city attorney is drafting an agreement and Commissioner Moore recommended including language that users would have to vacate if someone wanted to purchase the land. The city would accept the applications and rent money through the park and recreation department.

St. John’s Update – Agreements were signed yesterday.  Chad Adams continued the update.  In addition to the Developer’s Agreement and the TIF now in place, St. John’s paid fees and pulled the building permit yesterday so they could begin pouring footings.  St. John’s is still working with the Watershed on some issues.  Default provisions were included in the TIF agreement should St. John’s pay their assessments early without city approval.  The groundbreaking ceremony will be on April 23rd.

Mrs. Gerry’s Update – There is a meeting tomorrow with them to go over the TIF estimates.  State BDPI funds and TIF money can be used for land acquisition and regional pond construction.

Streater Update – Last week they contacted us looking for 30,000 SF more warehouse space.  They commented the Ring building is the nicest space they’ve ever leased and it appears they will need it for a longer term.  The new broker representing the Universal building, CB-Richard Ellis, was contacted to inquire if the owners have interest in leasing a small part of the building.

Bridon Update – A recent email was received from them saying they are still interested in the same space that Streator is occupying, but they are consumed by their new companies’ integration currently.  With the cost estimate for remodeling the Ring building end space, it might make more sense to put on an addition on their own building.

Downtown Project Update – It appears Earl Neist will lease a portion of his building to a business currently located on Broadway.  That vacancy will be filled by a new office operation.  A yoga studio is going into the LET Electronics building and another business will be moving into the tax building.  A small grocer has shown interest in the Sterling building.  Chad Adams added the focus groups the city held last year indicated a need for a grocer downtown.

Enderes Building Update – ZRT has been busy, but will get an environmental review done as soon as possible.  Hopefully, basic demo estimates will be available next meeting.

W. 9th St. Property Update – A purchase agreement was dropped off yesterday.  The price didn’t include paying any of the assessments.  The roads on two sides of the property were resurfaced last year and there are $28K in outstanding assessments.  The total piece is 37 acres and 26 are tillable acres.  A public hearing will need to be held to sell this property.  The auditors are onsite and staff discussed with them how to value this piece and other properties more realistically.  The value on the books is too high so a large paper loss will be shown when it is sold.  The piece had more value when there was rail access, which has since been removed.  The cash from the sale could pay for part of the demo on the Enderes building.  The board recommended further negotiations.  If the sale proceeds, staff will communicate with the city on purchaser’s planned uses.

Guest Column & Radio Program – Executive Director Nolander discussed with the host giving a recap on the radio the Thursday or Friday after each board meeting.  A couple newspaper columns have already been done also.

 

5.     EX-OFFICIO UPDATE

Freeborn County – Mike Lee, Freeborn County Representative

  • The county finally owns the rail property along highway 13.
  • On April 21st, they will hold a public hearing on tax abatement for market rate housing.
  • They held a listening session on the ½ cent sales tax and talked one-on-one with people afterward.  It went very well.  The funds would be used only for county roads and projects would have to be specified.  Bridge Street, South Broadway and County Road 4 are among the list.  It could be approved July or August.
  • The board of commissioners voted to send Senators Sparks and Bennett a letter of support designating the Shell Rock water trail as a state water trail.

City of Albert Lea – Chad Adams, City of Albert Lea Representative

  • On May 20th, there will be an afternoon and evening downtown preservation fair.  Vendors will be there to talk about how they can help with historic preservation.
  • The city will send in an application for a small development grant for revitalizing habitation.  The state contacted Executive Director Nolander to say MIF dollars could go toward this application which would help the city use their MIF funds that have so many strings attached to them.
  • Market rate rental housing – The city is getting a land use application from Schrom Construction.  The project site has changed again from the corner of West 9th Street, to further west.  They are proposing to build 36 units along Wedgewood Road on lots already platted and ready to build.  A tax abatement hearing will be coming up for this project.
  • The South Broadway study came back with preliminary data showing three lanes work better than four lanes.  The exception is Main Street where they’re recommending not to do three lanes.  It may go to the April 13th council meeting for more discussion before a final decision is made.
  • Cohen Esrey will submit another state application for tax credits in June.  Four transitional housing units will be included on the application to score more points.
  • The facilities master plan review was held in April.  The Blazing Star Landing was most of the focus.  An open house may be held to continue to inform the public on the master plan.
  • City staff met with Senator Sparks about local priorities and, specifically, workforce housing and the water treatment plant.  The mayor added that local residences will see an increase of three times what they currently pay if the bill to control phosphorus in the water is passed.

 

Chamber of Commerce – Randy Kehr, business community representative

  • There was going to be a ribbon cutting at Advance Dental today, but it’s been postponed until May.
  • On April 23rd, at 11:00 a.m. at Edgewater, there will be a ceremony for St. John’s ribbon cutting.
  • On April 13th, Mark Lanterman will speak at a seminar on internet safety at Wedgewood.  Details are on the chamber’s website.  He was the speaker from their annual meeting last year.
  • On May 6th, many members of the Blue Zone leadership team will be presenting at a summit in Des Moines.  This was the reason for changing the May ALEDA meeting.  Albert Lea is a major presence in the movement.
  • The Children’s Center has been designated as a Blue Zones worksite.

 

6.     COMMISSIONER/OTHER ITEMS – None

 

7.     ADJOURNMENT

  • Commissioner Moore made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Brooks.  The motion carried 5 in favor, 0 opposed.  The meeting adjourned at 8:35 a.m.

Filed and attested April 1, 2015.

 

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