March 3, 2010 Albert Lea Post Authority Minutes

By Tyler Golberg | March 3, 2010

March 3, 2010

ALBERT LEA PORT AUTHORITY

MINUTES

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

7:30 a.m.

Albert Lea Business Development Center

 

  1. The Regular Meeting of the Albert Lea Port Authority was called to order on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 7:30 a.m. by President Ellen Kehr and roll was noted.

MEMBERS PRESENT:  President, Ellen Kehr and Commissioners:  Al Brooks, Paul Field, Keith Fligge, Mike Moore, Vern Rasmussen Jr., and Nancy Skophammer.

MEMBERS ABSENT:  None.

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT:  Randy Kehr, Business Community representative; Christopher Shoff, Freeborn County representative; Lee Bjorndahl, City of Albert Lea representative.

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT:  None.

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:  Dan Dorman, Executive Director and Ryan Nolander, Assistant Director.

STAFF MEMBERS ABSENT:  Nancy Jensen, Board Secretary.

GUEST:  Bob Graham, Albert Lea Community Development.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 3, 2010 REGULAR MEETING.

The minutes of the February 3, 2010 meeting were reviewed.  Commissioner Rasmussen made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Moore.  The motion carried with 7 in favor and 0 opposed.

RESOLUTION PA-10-07  AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF CLAIMS.

The claims were presented for review.  Commissioner Fligge made a motion to approve Resolution PA-10-07 authorizing the payment of claims in the amount of $35,849.73, seconded by Commissioner Field.  The motion carried with 7 in favor and 0 opposed.

 EX-OFFICIO UPDATES.

Christopher Shoff  –  Freeborn County.

  • Discussed the implementation of the Armer System for emergency response.
  • Commissioner Shoff was in Washington D.C. and met with staff representing Congressman Tim Walz, and Senators Amy Kloubachar and Al Franken.
  • August 1, 2010 is slated as the MnDot date to begin construction on Highway 13.  County 46 and I-35 intersection safety was discussed.  A letter from Freeborn County officials was sent to MnDot requesting a safety study.   MnDot will do a study this summer.
  • Shoff informed the Board members that foreign investment is supposed to be big this year and he asked if there was any way to find out who the contacts might be so that we could take advantage of these dollars.  Discussion followed.
  • President Kehr informed Board members that she has a new position with the County, and is no longer with Four Seasons Travel.

Lee Bjorndahl  –  Interim City Manager – City of Albert Lea.

  • The City of Albert Lea is getting ready for Spring projects.
  • Interim City Manager Bjorndahl has been meeting with City and County personnel to gather information that should be communicated to the new City manager.
  • Bjorndahl has been handling daily tasks, meeting with citizens, organizing candidate interviews and their activities while here in Albert Lea, and discussed the hiring process for a new city manager which will take place on March 19-21.

Randy Kehr  –  Chamber of Commerce.

  • The Ag Luncheon is planned for March 16th, with the focus on regional competitiveness for the future.
  • On March 25th, Bent Tree Wind Farm reps will be coming to Albert Lea to speak to the Chamber Board and committee members,
  • ITC has a new local manager.  ITC is constructing lines from the Hayward substation to Worth County with crews working this summer.
  • Discussed the State’s current Sentence to Serve Program.
  • Kehr gave a Vitality Center update and said that the committee is trying to structure it to be out from under the City.   Outside visits will be made to discuss the process for the project with other committees.
  • The Chamber is starting to take applications for the 2010 Leadership Program.

Bob Graham – Albert Lea Community Development.

  • The requirements have been completed for the State grant on 777th Avenue.
  • Still working on the building design standard.
  • Airport zoning being revised due to runway shift.
  • The State is going to do sidewalks by Morin Park and out by the Skyline Plaza.
  • A sign ordinance group is being formed.
  • The executive summary for the comp plan was completed.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT.

  • PTO Discussion.

Director Dorman informed the board that he had met with staff and that we tracked exactly the same as the City.  ALEDA just used different wording.

  • Austin Situation.

The City of Austin’s Port Authority and DEA are looking to change from their current structure to an agency structure such as ours.

COMMISSIONER ITEMS.

  • Commissioner Rasmussen informed the Board that the State cuts to the City of Albert Lea do not mean that the City is poor, but the City Council will continue to look at cost savings and still fight for LGA.  Board discussion followed.
  • Commissioner Field informed the Board that in April 2010, a Federal Law will go into effect stating that any house built before 1978 must be checked for lead in the home.  Contractors must now be certified for lead abatement and must jump through several ‘hoops’ with all the requirements being added for construction.

ADJOURNMENT.

Commissioner Moore made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Fligge.  The motion carried with 7 to approve and 0 opposed.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 a.m.

Filed and attested March 3, 2010.

Ellen Kehr, President                          Ryan Nolander, Interim Secretary

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