December 3, 2014 Albert Lea Post Authority Minutes

By Tyler Golberg | December 3, 2014

December 3, 2014

ALBERT LEA PORT AUTHORITY

MINUTES

December 3, 2014

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, December 3, 2014 at 7:30 a.m. by President Fligge.  Roll was noted by the Board Secretary.
  • COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:  Vern Rasmussen, Jr., Mike Moore, Ellen Kehr, Keith Fligge, Al Brooks, Nate Jansen, and Mark Heinemann
  • COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:  None
  • 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 NOVEMBER 5, 2014 MEETING

  • The minutes from the November 5, 2014 meeting were reviewed.  Commissioner Jansen made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Brooks.  President Fligge asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 7 in favor; 0 opposed.

3.     RESOLUTION PA-14-20 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 $17,707.08, seconded by Commissioner Heinemann.  President Fligge asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 7 in favor; 0 opposed.

 

4.     EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

  • Mrs. Gerry’s Update –Executive Director Nolander, along with city officials, met with them and are still trying to negotiate a TIF and a developer’s agreement.  Mrs. Gerry’s disagrees with the value placed on their building after the last expansion and took the County to tax value court.  Until this issue is resolved, we can’t set a base value for the TIF or structure a TIF deal.  There has been some interest from another owner in the area for a regional retention pond, but a regional pond will most likely have to be done in future.
  • St. John’s Update – Chad Adams gave the update.  He is working with Kennedy & Graven on TIF terms and they’re waiting on St. John’s to provide numbers on who pays for what.  The City has been meeting every other week with them.  They plan to break ground in the spring.  The last phase is planned to open in 2017.  The project will start with assisted and independent care.
  • Downtown Projects – There is a purchase agreement in place with the former Courtly Manor building.  Executive Director Nolander has met with them to talk about gap financing.  They may provide space for a downtown office incubator and conversations have been started on how to partner with them with the entrepreneur program.  Hal Davis from DYI network is coming to look at additional buildings downtown and staff will continue to offer properties that would work for his idea.
  • Ruby’s Pantry Distribution Center – This is actually the company who distributes the food regional to Assembly of God Church and others in the area.  The first distribution is this Saturday in the Ring Can building.  The Church put a good word in to Ruby’s Pantry about the Ring Can facility and they toured it.  Staff is putting together numbers for a long-term lease to Ruby’s and they would still let Assembly of God use it for monthly distributions during the winter.  Currently, their distribution center is north of St. Paul.  The Ring building is more central to their locations in southern MN and could allow them to move into Iowa.
  • KATE Radio Spot – Executive Director Nolander joined Randy Kehr on the Chamber’s KATE radio spot.  An interview format was used where the host asked general questions about the organization and misconceptions the public has.  This may be a long-term relationship as he was invited to come back.
  • Riverland Employee Leadership Presentation – An employee leadership class for their staff is held each year.  Tomorrow is their economic development day.  Owatonna and Austin economic development professionals are also attending.  Riverland staff will pitch ideas to the ED professionals and they will explain the process.

 

5.     EX-OFFICIO UPDATE

Freeborn County – Mike Lee, Freeborn County Representative

  • The County is still on track to settle with the UP for the rail property to Hartland at the end of the month.
  • Discussions have begun on the possibility of a one half-cent sales tax on roads. There is $29M in road expenditures from now until 2020 and then $34M projected after that. The commissioners want to keep property taxes down.  One county who is using this sales tax option is paying 40% of their road maintenance from it.  This tax would be other than state aid help.
  • Looking at possibly rescinding the wheelage tax if they go with the sales tax option.
  • They are keeping the solid waste fee at $30 for 2015.
  • The commissioners are setting the levy at their next meeting, which should end up around 3.4%.
  • There will be a truth in taxation meeting tonight at 6 pm.

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

  • There are a couple of developers still working on market rate housing.  The larger potential project at 9th Street still has a gap.  Tax credits will be looked at after the legislative session is done.  Someone else is interested in the old Ramsey school for possible market rate housing, which could be a positive project.
  • Looking at possible changes to the MNDOT project being planned on the South Broadway corridor; potentially three lanes with a middle turn lane and bike lanes.  The traffic numbers fall short of needing the four lanes that are currently there.
  • Lakeview Boulevard will be reconstructed from the school to Martin Road, except by the bridge which was done recently.  There will be a wider shared user trail than the current sidewalk.  This will be a large disruption which should be done by the time school starts next fall.  The area by the Edgewater Park entrance will be done the following year.
  • Monday night’s council meeting will have a truth in taxation public portion.  The recommendation for the tax levy will be a total of 2.18%.  Sewer rates will be recommended to stay stable and water increased by 9%.  Final approvals will be made on December 22nd.  Letters will go out to significant water users.  At the council work session feedback will be given regarding the reorganization.
  • The developer for the Freeborn Bank is applying for funds from a tax credit program.
  • MN Energy Resources hopes to be in full control by April, 2015.  They will probably be adding jobs rather than eliminating jobs and make this a regional hub.

Chamber of Commerce – Randy Kehr, business community representative

  • Randy learned that SHIP can pay for painting for bike lines and capture other funds related to the Main Street/South Broadway project.
  • Re-upped with Grow MN to keep retention program.
  • Riverland in Austin is receiving scholarship money from AT&T.
  • Tomorrow Jim Krueger, Elaine from the Peoples’ Cooperative and the government affairs person in Rochester will meet with Bill Blazer with the MN Chamber and state public utility personnel.  The ethanol companies have issue with the Alliant sale.  They think the cooperatives are paying too much and this will affect rates later.  It’s unsure what they’re trying to accomplish or what this will do for the sale closing time.  Rebecca Gisel from Alliant added there are public hearings in December and a decision is to be made in January.

 

6.     COMMISSIONER/OTHER ITEMS

  • President Fligge said evaluation forms are going out today and need to be returned by next Friday, December 12th.  Julie will email the forms out.  The executive committee will meet after that.
  • Commissioner Kehr asked Mike Lee if the one half-cent sales tax can be used for safe roads for schools.  She feels it would add advocacy and support for the sales tax if a very small portion was allotted for good school crossings at Alden, Albert Lea, and Glenville.

 

7.     ADJOURNMENT

  • Commissioner Brooks made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Moore.  The motion carried 7 in favor, 0 opposed.  The meeting adjourned at 8:10 a.m.

Filed and attested December 3, 2014.

Posted in Minutes