February 6, 2013 Albert Lea Post Authority Minutes
February 6, 2013
ALBERT LEA PORT AUTHORITY
MINUTES
February 6, 2013
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, February 6, 2013 at 7:30 a.m. by President Nancy Skophammer. Roll was noted by the Board Secretary.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Vern Rasmussen, Jr., Keith Fligge, Mike Moore, Ellen Kehr, Al Brooks, and Nancy Skophammer
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Jerry Ehn
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: Randy Kehr, business community representative; Chad Adams, city of Albert Lea representative; Chris Shoff, Freeborn County representative
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Dorman, Executive Director; Ryan Nolander, Assistant Director; Julie Dandrea, Board Secretary
STAFF MEMBERS ABSENT: None
GUESTS: Greg Steil; Rebecca Gisel, Alliant Energy
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM JANUARY 2, 2013 MEETING
The minutes from the January 2, 2013 meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Rasmussen made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Kehr. President Skophammer asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 6 in favor; 0 opposed.
3. RESOLUTION PA-13-07 AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
The claims were presented for review. Dan noted the claims list is now prepared by Hammer Dieser Mangskau. Staff is still working with HDM on the report format. Commissioner Moore made a motion to accept the claims as presented in the amount of $2,933.34, seconded by Commissioner Brooks. President Skophammer asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 6 in favor; 0 opposed.
4. RESOLUTION PA-13-08 AUTHORIZING ROUTINE CLAIMS TO BE PAID MID-MONTH
Although discussed some time ago, an official resolution was never passed authorizing claims to be paid mid-month. Executive Director Dorman explained the Port incurs finance charges on some routine invoices because of missed payment dates, necessitating a call every month asking them to be removed. Many businesses won’t change their billing dates to accommodate our payment schedule. President Skophammer suggested setting up ACH payments for routine fees such as utility payments. Executive Director Dorman will look into it. Commissioner Fligge made a motion to approve the resolution as submitted. Commissioner Brooks seconded it and the motion passed 6 in favor, 0 opposed.
5. RESOLUTION PA-13-09 SEPARATING DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FROM THE CITY
Both Assistant Director Nolander and Executive Director Dorman have income deferred into an unmatched, self-funded retirement plan. The plan is managed by ICMA. As part of the accounting shift to HDM, the city finance officer suggested separating from the city’s plan into its own plan. Nothing will change other than the plan will be in the Port’s name. There is no new cost in doing this. Commissioner Moore moved to accept the resolution as presented. Commissioner Brooks seconded it and the motion passed 6 in favor, 0 opposed.
6. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Enderes Property –A purchase agreement was sent to Freeborn County Cooperative Oil with a price of $50,000 per acre plus $50,000 for the railroad accessibility. The per-acre pricing rationalization came from recent sales in the Jobs Park and adding $50,000 for rail as suggested by an appraiser. They asked us to consider dividing the lot and selling them one acre. We’ll have Jones, Haugh, Smith look at the feasibility. Under state statute, the Port must have a legitimate reason for discounting its pricing too much when selling tax forfeited property. Their project would not generate a large tax base or strong job creation. A TIF can’t be done because the buyer won’t be putting a large, taxable building on the land. The back piece is worth more per acre than front piece. We will try to help them as much as possible within the parameters of state law. If Ventura is interested in the front parcel, it’s possible both businesses could use it.
Work Force Development meeting – Riverland hosted a meeting in Owatonna on January 31. Their aim is to get high school grads that may not go to college to think about local manufacturing plants. Current class offerings aren’t really technical any longer and there’s a need to revert back to trained employees because skills don’t always match with local needs. Southern MN Initiative Foundation might fund some of the program. The mayor has asked Executive Director Dorman to be more active in local work force development. Dorman noted he is participating in a webinar class about re-shoring manufacturing. Coincidentally, a new person with training and development from Riverland with stopped by yesterday to introduce herself.
Local cold storage needs – Currently, there is a glut in pork production and cold storage is needed now. Executive Director Dorman met with Tom Newell from the MN Freezer Warehouse twice to discuss the situation. Newell would want to see the demand stay at current levels before considering expansion.
7. EX-OFFICIO UPDATE
Freeborn County – Chris Shoff, Freeborn County Representative
– Chris will share responsibilities for Greater Jobs board meetings with Mike Lee and John Kluever will attend when they are unavailable.
– The veteran’s clinic RFQ is coming out soon with a build date in the fall. Mower, Freeborn, Waseca and Faribault counties are competing for the clinic. Mayo must have a designated space in order to submit a bid. The clinic would not be VA operated, but would have an independent operator. This is a five-year commitment so it would be hard to justify constructing a new building.
– The county is waiting for MNDOT to provide a freight rail plan. With the $950,000 from the Legacy Fund, the county is at $1.1 million now and hopes to negotiate with UP to get the land for that amount for the bike trail.
– There will be a meeting in March regarding the Blazing Star trail.
City of Albert Lea – Chad Adams, City of Albert Lea Representative
– At next Monday’s city council meeting, an agreement with Kwik-Trip will likely be approved with Kwik-Trip paying for the removal of the frontage road and up to one-third of intersection improvement costs.
– Within the next two months, the city should know if there will be a deal with the developers for the Freeborn Bank building or not. They are still waiting for the market housing study to be completed.
– Tomorrow there will be a meeting about infrastructure in the Stables area. St. John’s plans to start building this year. Work will begin soon on a utility expansion plan.
– The state-of-the-city address is available on the city’s website and on You-Tube.
Chamber of Commerce – Randy Kehr, business community representative
– The Rendezvous gourmet auction was very successful, taking in nearly $14,000.
– The Big Freeze is a week from Saturday. The fire department handles the polar plunge.
– Senator Franken will be in town this Saturday. He will attend a robotic teams scrimmage at Riverland, a tour of Bridon-Cordage, and go to Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services to talk about the farm bill.
– Randy has been participating in the interview process for the new president of Riverland. The goal is to name someone in March.
8. COMMISSIONER ITEMS
– Commissioner Rasmussen suggested ALEDA put local employment opportunities on its website. The Chamber of Commerce is already doing this so a link could be added to ALEDA’s website to the Chamber’s job spot.
– Mayo Health Systems will be implementing a program whereby employees can recognize their peer’s accomplishments with perks that can be redeemed for chamber bucks. This will be a tremendous infusion into the local economy. Mayo in Austin already has the program in place and from their numbers, our Chamber could triple the amount of Chamber bucks they currently do.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Brooks made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner. The motion carried 6 in favor, 0 opposed. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 a.m.
Filed and attested February 6, 2013.
_____________________________ __________________________
President Board Secretary