March 5, 2014 Albert Lea Post Authority Minutes

By Tyler Golberg | March 5, 2014

March 5, 2014

ALBERT LEA PORT AUTHORITY

MINUTES

March 5, 2014

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, March 5, 2014 at 7:35 a.m. by Treasurer/Commissioner Ellen Kehr.  Roll was noted by the Board Secretary.
  • COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:  Vern Rasmussen, Jr., Mike Moore, Ellen Kehr, and Al Brooks (arrived at 7:40)
  • COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:  Nancy Skophammer, Keith Fligge, and Nate Jansen
  • EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT:  Sack Thongvanh, 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:  None

(Due to a snowstorm there wasn’t a quorum at the start so the meeting did not follow the agenda order.)

2.     EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Audit discussion – Auditors are currently on site.  They have recommended a conflict of interest policy.  A draft policy has been forwarded to the City Attorney to review.  Staff will bring it to the board in the upcoming month.

Freeborn County Cooperative – They were interested in a piece of the back lot of the Enderes property last year.  Executive Director Nolander attended their board meeting and pitched the same lot and pricing.  Their board didn’t object to the price.  They asked about restrictions and MPCA controls.  They need answers for environmental concerns before moving forward.  Staff just signed title papers on the property and is not sure if any of it can be sold until that’s cleared up.  A property tax estimate from the county was obtained for the co-op.  The project would be for their dust control product.

Crowne Pointe Housing – This manufactured housing group was discussed last month.  They looked at the Ring building and talked about a lot in the ALEDA Park.  They are currently working on a lease to purchase with Dick Rocklin on the Kleentec building.  They’re looking for some possible gap financing so we sent them a loan application a couple weeks ago with additional questions and haven’t received a response.

(Commissioner Brooks and Mike Lee arrived at this point and the above report was recapped for them.) 

3.     APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 5, 2014 MEETING

The minutes from the February 5, 2014 meeting were reviewed.  Commissioner Moore made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Rasmussen.  Commissioner Kehr asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 4 in favor; 0 opposed.

4.     RESOLUTION PA-14-08 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 $3,023.78, seconded by Commissioner Brooks.  Commissioner Kehr asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 4 in favor; 0 opposed.

(The Executive Director Report continued at this point.)

Larson Manufacturing warehouse space – They contacted staff early February needing warehousing space.  They moved in later in the month with a signed lease through the end of May.  The lease is an all-in price since it’s short-term and not practical to move utilities or adjust the property taxes.  They have a stepped lease as they will gradually occupy more space.  Commissioner Rasmussen made a motion to approve lease as discussed.  Commissioner Brooks seconded and the motion passed 4 in favor, 0 opposed.

St. John’s update – They are still working on financing from USDA.  They have a construction start date in September of this year. Another source of financing is in place for the portion of the project USDA can’t fund.

Port/City Council Work Session Reminder – The meeting will be 3/20/14 in the city council chambers.

Other Items – The broker representing the Universal Tire building called to inform us a company is interested in the building and could possibly bring 200-300 jobs with pay around $20/hour.  He wouldn’t say who the company is.  They know about state incentives and want to hear about local incentives.  Executive Directory Nolander sent the City and County an email asking what we could offer in loans, a TIF or tax abatement.

Nolander attended a MN marketing meeting yesterday where a national site selector presented.

JOBZ audits are coming up in March.

Due to other commitments no retention visits were done in February.  Edwards Manufacturing, Innovance and Interstate Packaging will be visited in March.

5.     EX-OFFICIO UPDATE

Freeborn County – Mike Lee, Freeborn County Representative

  • UP agreed on the $1.1 million sale price for the railroad property along Highway 13.  This is the amount of the grant received by the county.
  • The County wrote a letter of support to the legislature to support bonding for dredging Fountain Lake.  The Watershed is trying to get additional funds of $900,000 for rebuilding the dam.
  • The County will move forward with construction of a new storage building at the county shop after receiving a good price of $683,000.
  • The grand opening for the new VA clinic will be 4/11/14 at 1:00 p.m.  Senator Walz will be there. (Mike later corrected the date to 4/25/14 from 1-4 p.m.)

City of Albert Lea – Sack Thongvanh, City of Albert Lea Representative

  • The Blandin group will attend the next meeting to report on their findings.
  • Nothing is official yet, but the city is still working with two developers for market rate rental housing.  One is 54 units and the other is 35.
  • The City is reviewing two proposals for the Bank building and will be going to the council on March 10 with pre-development agreements with one of them.
  • The HRA housing study is underway and should be completed by July.
  • At the council meeting on March 10, they will be looking at submitting a letter of support of sales tax for the Watershed.

Chamber of Commerce – Randy Kehr, business community representative

  • Session priorities were already touched on.  It was a productive trip.
  • Randy met with the MN Chamber, Alliant Energy, Freeborn County Mower Cooperative and others in regards to filing for the Alliant sale.
  • On March 13, the Watershed will meet with Representative Sparks and hopefully, Senator Bakk.  They will meet with the Speaker of the House in the afternoon and the bonding person in Gov. Dayton’s office.  The Chamber Board sent a support letter to the Lakes Foundation for sales tax dollars.
  • The Ag Lunch will be on March 18.  The speaker will be Jim Miller, Chief Economist for Growth Energy, an ethanol advocacy group. (Randy Kehr left at 8:20)

6.     COMMISSIONER ITEMS

  • Commissioner Brooks noted that since AmTech’s separation from Merrick’s, Merrick’s has went from one to three shifts.

7.     ADJOURNMENT

  • Commissioner Brooks made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Rasmussen.  The motion carried 4 in favor, 0 opposed.  The meeting adjourned at 8:25 a.m.

 

Filed and attested March 5, 2014.

Posted in Minutes