Port Authority January 7, 2009 Albert Lea Post Authority Minutes

1) The Regular Meeting of the Albert Lea Port Authority was called to order on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. by President Keith Fligge and roll was noted.

MEMBERS PRESENT: President, Keith Fligge and Commissioners:  Al Brooks, Paul Field, Ellen Kehr, 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; Victoria Simonsen, City of Albert Lea representative (arrived at 8 a.m.).

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT:  None.

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Dorman, Executive Director; Ryan Nolander, Assistant Director; and Nanciana Jensen, Board Secretary.

STAFF MEMBERS ABSENT: None.

2) ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2009.

In January of each year, new officers for the Port Authority are elected.

§ President – * Ellen Kehr

§ Vice President – * Paul Field

§ Treasurer – * Mike Moore

* Have agreed to serve if elected.

 

President Keith Fligge made a motion to accept the slate of officers as presented, seconded by Commissioner Rasmussen. The motion carried with 7 to approve and 0 opposed.

3) APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS FOR 2009.

§ Board Secretary – Nancy Jensen

§ Assistant Treasurer – Rhonda Moen

President Fligge made a motion to approve the aforementioned candidates for office, seconded by Commissioner Field. The vote to approve was 7 in favor and 0 opposed. The motion carried.

4) APPOINTMENT OF EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2009.

§ City Representative – Victoria Simonsen

§ County Representative – Christopher Shoff

§ Business Community Representative – Randy Kehr

President Fligge made a motion to retain the ex-officio Board members as presented, seconded by Commissioner Moore. The vote to approve was 7 in favor and 0 opposed. The motion carried.

5) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 3^rd, 2008 REGULAR MEETING.

The minutes of the December 3, 2008 meeting were reviewed. As there were no questions or comments, Commissioner Rasmussen made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Field. The motion carried with 7 in favor and 0 opposed.

The claims were presented for review and discussion followed. Commissioner Moore made a motion to approve Resolution PA-09-01 authorizing the payment of claims in the amount of $33,558.22, seconded by Commissioner Field. Discussion followed. The motion carried with 7 in favor and 0 opposed.

§ Depositories = US Bank and the 4M Fund

§ Signatories = President, Treasurer and Executive Director

Resolution PA-09-02 designating depositories and signatories for withdrawal of funds was introduced and discussed. Executive Director Dorman informed the Board that the Port Authority uses US Bank for depositories and the 4M (Money Municipal Market Fund) Fund for investments. The transfer or withdrawal of funds on deposit in the aforementioned institutions, whether by check or otherwise, shall be by the signature of the following officers: President Ellen Kehr, Treasurer Mike Moore, Executive Director Dan Dorman, and Assistant Treasurer Rhonda Moen. Commissioner Field made a motion to continue the use of depositories at US Bank and the 4M Fund, and that they are managed by Assistant Treasurer Rhonda Moen. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kehr.   The vote to approve the resolution was 7 in favor and 0 opposed. Motion carried.

8) RESOLUTION PA-09-03   SETTING MEETING DATES AND TIMES FOR THE PORT AUTHORITY.

§ First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 a.m.

§ Move May meeting date.

Resolution PA-09-03 setting meeting dates and times for the Port Authority was introduced and discussed. Executive Director Dorman requested that the May meeting date be moved to May 13, 2009, due to a Wind Turbine Conference in Chicago which he will attend.   Commissioner Moore made a motion to approve dates and times for the Port Authority meetings, with the May meeting date as May 13^th, seconded by President Fligge. The vote to approve the resolution was 7 in favor and 0 opposed. Motion carried.

9) EX-OFFICIO UPDATES.

Christopher Shoff – Freeborn County.

§ The first meeting of 2009 was held on January 6^th, 2009.

§ The County Board meetings will be televised and will be on the government channel. A test run was conducted on December 16^th.

§ Commissioner Shoff was elected as the Chairman of the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners.

§ The County Board has begun a proactive approach to marketing, noting that the Veteran’s Administration needs to build a hospital facility in Southern Minnesota. The Board has been in contact with the VA.

§ The Bridge Avenue discussion will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday evening.

§ Discussions have been held regarding federal programs that may be available for Freeborn County.

§ In February, Commissioner Shoff will be going to Washington D.C.

§ The County Board may not be able to honor the $15,000 pledge made earlier for the ALBDC due to budget constraints.

§ The upcoming meeting on the Bridge Avenue project will be televised. At that time, information will be given regarding the project, and questions answered.

Victoria Simonsen – City of Albert Lea.

§ The City of Albert Lea is facing significant budget cuts and is anticipating more. Their staff is working on budget deficit strategies. They have strategies for up to $2.5 million in LGA.

§ The kick-off for the Art Space Marketing survey has begun. The public can go online to take the survey at www.artspacealbertlea.org. The City staff was asked to come up with 3,000 names of possible art space tenants, and they came up with 4,200. Among this number, there is a need to find 35-40 names who will commit to the project.

§ The new council members were sworn in at the first 2009 City Council meeting.

§ The Maxfield housing study should be completed within the next couple of weeks.

§ January 15^th is the legislative day for the Coalition of Minnesota Cities.

§ A company from the Twin City area has an interest in looking at downtown properties.

§ The landfill project is right on schedule. Better soil will be put down at the old boat landing so the shelter can be relocated.

§ A question was asked as to the resolution of Eagles Rest. Scott LaFavre has an additional 90 days with the bank.

Randy Kehr – Chamber of Commerce.

§ Director Kehr informed the Board that the Chamber did an industrial wage and retail wage survey of Chamber members.

§ A program titled “Grow Freeborn County” has been instituted by the Chamber Board of Directors. They will be visiting smaller companies with 75 employees or less. A Board member or Director Kehr will be making the retention calls.   The Minnesota Chamber has a program called “Grow Minnesota” which will allow us to get information statewide and also our on immediate county. He distributed a sheet to the PA Board members with the 10 questions that would be asked during the visits.

§ He informed Board members that this year, the Chamber actually sold 9% more Chamber Bucks than they did a year ago. Many businesses bought Chamber Bucks, demonstrating how important it is to do business locally.

§ Director Kehr distributed a yearly calendar that had been designed by the Chamber, utilizing pictures from local area photographers showcasing Albert Lea. During one of the CEO group meetings, discussion was held as to why there was not an Albert Lea calendar available. This 2009 calendar was the result of that meeting. The cost is $9.95 at the Chamber office, but if ordered early, a calendar can be purchased for $9.00.

§ The Chamber Christmas ornament sale is more of a community service that a money maker. The money received pretty much just covers the cost of the ornament. They sell approximately 200-250 per year.

10) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT.

A. Preparation for Annual Meeting.

Executive Director Dorman discussed the annual meeting with Board members. Nancy Jensen distributed an annual meeting program for review. Director Dorman reminded Board members that the annual meeting will be held at the Ramada Inn, and that the time was 11:45 a.m.

B. Spec Building Update – bidding and finance.

Director Dorman routed property spec building statistics received from Zenk, Read and Trygstad. The plans were for a 62,000 square foot building with the option of constructing a building only half that size. Executive Director Dorman asked for guidance from the Board as to financing options for the project. He would like loan financing proposals from area banks. Discussion followed. Commissioner Moore asked if there was a precedence set that we use only local banks. Director Dorman responded by saying that he didn’t think there was precedence set on the Port Authority side, but he felt it may be the time to start supporting local industry by utilizing local banks. Further discussion followed.   Commissioner Moore asked if the Port Authority is bound by terms of being a public entity. Director Dorman will check into that but does not think we are bound by those terms. He would like to ask for quotations from banks in Freeborn County.

Discussion was held regarding utilizing a local small bank for depositories, in order to try to keep the money local. Commissioner Kehr gave the background as to why the Port Authority currently uses the depositories they have now.

C. Ring Can Building.

Director Dorman informed the Board that the building has water damage which has caused paint issues. Another small roof repair was completed.   Currently, the refrigerated space is leased to Ventura Foods. Gary Walker would like to lease another 20% of the building, but this would require refrigerated space, which we do not have at this time. Director Dorman suggested to Mr. Walker that Ventura Foods sublet space from Ring Containers.   Currently Ventura has 13,800 square feet of leased space, and would like an additional 13,800 square feet of space.

D. Gametec.

Director Dorman informed the Board that a furnace started on fire in the Gametec building over the weekend. Currently Gametec is on a triple net lease, but we are responsible if the basic heating unit fails. Gametec has a specialized furnace/air conditioner unit; the replacement cost of that unit would be approximately $80,000. In the meantime, Jim and Dudes has ordered two 400,000 B.T.U. heaters so that Gametec will have heat. A new lease has not been signed as yet; Gametec is still on a month to month lease basis.

E. Sewer Rate Summary.

Director Dorman distributed his executive summary of the sewer rates which was requested by the Board at the last Port Authority meeting.

F. I-35 Business Park Grant Update.

Executive Director Dorman informed the Port Authority Board that our application for funds to build a road in the Business Park was turned down, but that we may reapply for other grants. A letter of possible intent was needed to apply for the grant, so Dan De Boer wrote a letter of possible intent as he may need to purchase more land in the future as his business is currently land locked.

G. State Chamber Legislative Priorities.

Executive Director Dorman, Assistant Director Nolander and Chamber Director Kehr will be attending a legislative informational meeting sponsored by the Minnesota Chamber.

H. Business Expansion and Retention Visits.

Director Dorman informed the Board that after today’s ALEDA meetings, another meeting will be held in our conference room regarding business retention/expansion visits. Directors Dorman and Nolander of ALEDA, Chamber Director Kehr, Roberta Czaplewski and Doug Parr of Riverland, and three Business Service representatives of DEED will attend. Discussions will be held regarding the retention/expansion visits by the three entities, so that overlap of company visits does not occur.

11) COMMISSIONER ITEMS.

· Commissioner Rasmussen informed the Board that three City Council members, and Executive Director Dorman will be attending the Greater Minnesota Coalition Day at the State capital on Thursday.

· It was suggested that a person from the City staff be added to the business expansion/retention committee.

12) ADJOURNMENT.

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

Filed and attested January 7, 2008.

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President                                                 Secretary