May 12, 2015 Albert Lea Post Authority Minutes

By Tyler Golberg | May 12, 2015

May 12, 2015

ALBERT LEA PORT AUTHORITY

MINUTES

Tuesday, May 12, 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 Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 7:00 a.m. by President Kehr.  Roll was noted by the Board Secretary.
  • COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:  Vern Rasmussen, Jr., Mike Moore, Ellen Kehr, Al Brooks, Nate Jansen, and Ginny Larson
  • COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:  Mark Heinemann
  • 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:  Kimberley Hillberg – CliftonLarsonAllen

2.     AUDIT RESULTS

  • Kimberley Hillberg with CliftonLarsonAllen reviewed the financials and noted the highlights.  She suggested shifting any expenses possible to come out of the real estate/business activity fund rather than the general fund.  This would be positive to the general fund’s bottom line.  Executive Director Nolander brought up sale of land on the agenda which was discussed during the audit.  The property on 9th Street is way over valued and has assessments from street improvements last year.  It was valued at a time when there was rail access that has since been removed.  The sale will show a paper loss on next year’s financials.   Kimberley concluded by stating the Port Authority was given a clean compliance opinion and asked for any questions.  President Kehr asked for motion to approve the 2014 audit as presented.  Commissioner Jansen made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Brooks.  It passed 6 in favor, 0 opposed.

3.     APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM APRIL 1, 2015 MEETING

  • The minutes from the April 1, 2015 meeting were reviewed.  Commissioner Rasmussen made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Moore.  President Kehr asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 6 in favor, 0 opposed.

4.     RESOLUTION PA-15-10 AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF CLAIMS

  • The claims were presented for review.  The first half property taxes were noted.  Commissioner Moore made a motion to accept the claims as presented in the amount of $103,125.88, seconded by Commissioner Jansen.  President Kehr asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 6 in favor, 0 opposed.

5.     RESOLUTION PA-15-11 UPDATING OPERATIONS AGREEMENT

  • Last year’s change in staffing reimbursement ratios needs to be adjusted on the operations agreement per the advice of the auditors.  The updated agreement shows Greater Jobs at a 40% rate instead of 50%.  Commissioner Rasmussen made a motion to update the operations agreement as presented. Commissioner Brooks seconded it and the motion passed 6 in favor, 0 opposed.

6.     RESOLUTION PA-15-12 UPDATING ALBDC LEASE

  • In order to tie in this lease agreement to the same schedule as the operations agreement above, the lease agreement will now be a three-year term rather than a five-year term and will have a renewal date of January instead of May.  These are the only changes.  Commissioner Jansen made a motion to initiate these changes.  Commissioner Brooks seconded it, and the motion passed 6 in favor, 0 opposed.

7.     PUBLIC HEARING RE: SALE OF PARCEL 34.059.1190

  • Executive Director Nolander gave the background of the proposed sale.  Scottsman Ice Machines gifted the 37-acre piece of property in the early 1990’s when leaving Albert Lea.  Originally, it was worth more for economic development because it had rail, which has since been removed.  Staff was approached by Larry Wangen and Randy Maiers to purchase the piece.  The potential buyers met with city officials to check for any issues with their intended use of the property.  They plan to haul snow there from their respective businesses and may erect a building in the future to store equipment.  (Chad Adams arrived.)  They have signed a purchase agreement and paid earnest money.  The price is $75,000.  Although this land has been leased for crops to help recover the property taxes each year, it does not have great soil for farming and only 25 acres of the property are tillable.
  • President Kehr opened the public hearing and asked for public input three times.  Hearing none, she closed the public hearing.

8.     RESOLUTION PA-15-13 APPROVING SALE OF PARCEL 34.059.1190

  • Commissioner Larson made a motion to sell the property with the terms as presented in the purchase agreement.  Commissioner Jansen seconded.  On a roll call vote: Commissioner Brooks – yes; Commissioner Jansen – yes; Commissioner Rasmussen, Jr. – yes; Commissioner Larson – yes; Commissioner Moore – yes; Commissioner Kehr – yes.  The vote was unanimous and Resolution PA-15-13 passed approving the sale per the terms of the purchase agreement.

9.     EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

  • St. John’s Update – The groundbreaking was held on 4/23/15.  Mayor Rasmussen spoke and Executive Director Nolander, Chad Adams, Randy Kehr and the Chamber Ambassadors attended.  It’s a good project and is going well.
  • Mrs. Gerry’s Update – City officials, Zenk, Read & Trygstad, and Executive Director Nolander met with Mrs. Gerry’s and provided retention plan options.  A TIF to help pay for a regional retention pond was discussed and waiting for ZRT to furnish the drawings and estimate.  Then an application can be sent to state to apply for BDPI funds to assist with the costs.
  • Streater Update – They are still leasing the south end of the Ring building.  Staff will amend their lease if they plan to stay longer.  The other portion of the Ring building has block issues around the dock doors from trucks hitting it.  Staff met with a contractor to discuss repairs and with Ventura to discuss splitting the cost.  Ventura also mentioned they want to extend the middle space lease to match the expiration date on the north end space lease space.  They are a good tenant.
  • Enderes Building Update – Overgaard still has equipment in there.  Executive Director Nolander stopped there last week and found the door left open.  The estimates on the demolition costs may available next month.  After demolition, it will be a nice seven-acre piece with two rail spurs.
  • Blandin representatives held a gathering in Albert Lea on 4/13/15 and participated in group discussions.
  • Staff’s Tribune article regarding how leads come to ALEDA was published this month and copies were passed around to those who had not seen it.
  • He attended the DEED Road Show in Oronoco last week.
  • Hal Davis, who wants to set up a pop-up store in Albert Lea a couple of times a month based off the West End Salvage Store in Des Moines, came back and toured the bank building.  While at the Blue Zones event in Des Moines last week, Chad Adams and others visited his West End Salvage Store and were very impressed.  He has agreed to come to Wind Down Wednesdays.  His business may not be a large money maker for the city, but would be tremendous in driving traffic downtown.

10.  EX-OFFICIO UPDATE

Freeborn County – Mike Lee, Freeborn County Representative

  • A new wind farm east of Glenville is being proposed and was in the Tribune recently.  The county commissioners are meeting tomorrow at 6:30 at Glenville city hall with wind farm representatives.
  • The county will hold a workshop on 6/9/15 regarding the ½ cent sales tax on roads.
  • A contract with correctional employees was settled.

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

  • He is working with Executive Director Nolander on the ALEAP Program.  The Marketing Plant is opening up co-working space in the next couple of weeks. Chad is also working with Riverland on a training program.  The Outlet under TMP will manage the engagement piece for ALEAP.  The Chamber will be doing an Ambassador visit to their location in the near future.
  • A market rate housing project in the Wedgewood area is going forward and moving along quickly.  Executive Director Nolander suggested inviting the Wedgewood Housing Association to the next meeting to keep them in the loop.
  • A citizen survey is going out in May.  A draft of the report will come in June and the final to the council in July.
  • The Downtown Preservation Fair will be held on 5/20/15.  Vendors will be on hand, tours of downtown properties will be available, and also there will be a presentation on the Main Street Program.
  • The city is being proactive in looking at the 300 block of downtown for redevelopment.
  • Lots of exposure is coming from the Blue Zone Project.
  • The city did receive the Small Cities Rehab Grant.  This will assist 40 HRA units.
  • There is a meeting today with MnDot to go over 3-lane project on South Broadway.  There is an open house planned for later this month to get the information out to the public.

Chamber of Commerce – Randy Kehr, business community representative

  • Reviewed the Blue Zone Summit and the program’s impact.
  • The fireworks fundraiser is 5/29/15.
  • The State of Manufacturing’s rollout will be at 11:00 a.m. at FMCS on 6/9/15.
  • There will be a training workshop on 6/10/15.

11.  COMMISSIONER/OTHER ITEMS – None

12.  ADJOURNMENT

  • Commissioner Moore made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Brooks.  The motion carried 6 in favor, 0 opposed.  The meeting adjourned at 8:05a.m.

 

Filed and attested May 12, 2015.

 

 

 

_____________________________                    __________________________

President                                                               Board Secretary

 

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