October 5, 2011 Albert Lea Post Authority Minutes
October 5, 2011
ALBERT LEA PORT AUTHORITY
MINUTES
October 5, 2011
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, October 5, 2011 at 7:30 a.m. by President Vern Rasmussen. Roll was noted by the Board Secretary
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Jerry Ehn, Vern Rasmussen, Jr., Al Brooks, Mike Moore, Ellen Kehr and Nancy Skophammer
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Keith Fligge
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: Randy Kehr, business community representative
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: Chad Adams, City Manager and Mike Lee, Freeborn County Representative
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Dorman, Executive Director, Ryan Nolander, Assistant Director and Julie Dandrea, Board Secretary
STAFF MEMBERS ABSENT: None
GUESTS: Greg Steil and Chuck Paczkowski
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 MEETING
The minutes from the September 7, 2011 meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Brooks made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Skophammer. President Rasmussen asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 6 in favor; 0 opposed.
3. RESOLUTION PA-11-15 AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
The claims were presented for review. Executive Director Dorman noted there were two large claims; one for maintenance painting on the Gametec Building and property taxes. The roof on the Gametec building will be an upcoming issue. Commissioner Moore asked about the payment to GIS. This was the second half of the payment for having the property search feature on our website align with the state’s website. The payment was split between the Port Authority and Greater Jobs. Commissioner Brooks motioned to accept the claims as presented in the amount of $79,305.19, seconded by Commissioner Moore. President Rasmussen asked if there were any further questions and hearing none, the motion carried 6 in favor; 0 oppose
4. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
• Ventura Lease Update – A refrigeration update would cost approximately $110,000. We have provided Ray Roberts a new lease proposal, including refrigeration and lighting upgrades and he has sent the information on to his superiors. We have received Alliant’s energy savings estimation for updating the lighting and are waiting for their savings estimate on updating the refrigeration system.
• Carpenter – They didn’t understand the new lease language regarding sharing in the responsibility of capital expenses; e.g., if an expense was capitalized over a ten year period and they vacated after one year, their responsibility would be 1/10th of the cost. We will keep working through any more questions.
• MCHS Project Update – Their last big internal hurdle is November 1. If it passes this hurdle it goes to the Mayo Board of Governors. There is concern regarding capital allocations. On the same subject, Executive Director Dorman met recently with the County Commissioners Lee and Shoff, John Kluever and Chad Adams to explore ideas on how to help with this project.
• Tiger III Grant – The City is applying for this new grant and applied for the Tiger II Grant last year. They’re not sure if the criteria changed for this streetscape project. A letter of support was given from ALEDA. President Rasmussen said there are a lot of qualified projects and limited dollars.
• Property Taxes – The Chamber held a meeting last week with city and county officials regarding the projected upward change in property taxes. The meeting was directed at commercial/industrial companies, many of whom were invited, but it was not very well attended. Executive Director Dorman prepared handouts for the meeting and shared them with the board. One handout compared commercial/industrial increases/decreases on selected cities from 2003 to 2010 and projected changes for 2012 on both residential and commercial/industrial. The other handout showed the projected changes in 2012 property taxes on market value credit only. President Rasmussen felt Executive Director Dorman did a good job explaining the changes at the meeting.
A long discussion followed regarding residential and commercial property tax increases, levies, market value credits and lack of LGA.
5. EX-OFFICIO UPDATE
Freeborn County – None
Chamber of Commerce – Randy Kehr
• Ellen and Randy spoke recently at an Iowa Hospital Association meeting where Dan Buettner was the keynote speaker. This workshop had their largest ever registration with standing room only. They are looking for ten cities in IA to be the healthiest.
• The Chamber’s annual meeting is October 20th at Wedgewood Cove with Mark Loftus from DEED as speaker.
• The Chamber also gave a letter of support for the Tiger III Grant.
• The Rendezvous was a great success with a huge attendance. Discounted family passes were offered to member’s employees for $10 and 220 were sold in advance in addition to the number sold at the gate.
• The Fall Festival downtown was extremely successful and lasted well into the afternoon.
City of Albert Lea – President Rasmussen
• A local group of people spoke at the National League of Cities meeting on the vitality project. The interest is phenomenal. The City will look for opportunities to further continue the momentum of this project.
• Still working on a sewer incentive.
• President Rasmussen feels we should look outside the box and grow local, existing companies and be creative. The future trend could be creating one’s own job.
6. COMMISSIONER ITEMS
• Commissioner Brooks asked about Al Larson’s warehouse being rented to Pioneer Seeds (DuPont). Executive Director Dorman talked with Larson, who said they rented it for one year. There has been interest in his building from others as well.
• Commissioner Skophammer spoke of the negative publicity she heard recently. Much discussion followed. President Rasmussen emphasized the importance of continuing to change this image because there are a lot of rumors and not many facts around.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Kehr made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Brooks. The motion carried 6 in favor, 0 opposed. The meeting adjourned at 8:35 a.m.
Filed and attested October 5, 2011.