September 7, 2011 Albert Lea Post Authority Minutes
September 7, 2011
ALBERT LEA PORT AUTHORITY
MINUTES
September 7, 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, September 7, 2011 at 7:30 a.m. by President Vern Rasmussen. Roll was noted by the Assistant Director.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Jerry Ehn, Vern Rasmussen, Jr., Al Brooks, Keith Fligge, Mike Moore, Ellen Kehr and Nancy Skophammer (7:35am)
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: Chad Adams, City Manager; Mike Lee, Freeborn County Representative; and Randy Kehr, business community representative
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Dorman, Executive Director and Ryan Nolander, Assistant Director
STAFF MEMBERS ABSENT: Julie Dandrea, Board Secretary
GUESTS: Greg Steil, Chuck Paczkowski and Representative Rich Murray
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM AUGUST 3, 2011 MEETING
The minutes from the August 3, 2011 meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Fligge made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Brooks. President Rasmussen asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 6 in favor; 0 opposed.
3. RESOLUTION PA-11-13 AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
The claims were presented for review. Commissioner Moore motioned to accept the claims as presented in the amount of $55,312.79, seconded by Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Moore asked about the payment to ZRT. Executive Director Dorman explained that this was the final payment for 14th St. and it was delayed due to the issue we had with the concrete being installed incorrectly during construction. President Rasmussen asked if there were any further questions and hearing none, the motion carried 6 in favor; 0 opposed.
4. PUBLIC HEARING RE: SALE OF SOUTH BLDG. NO. 3
Executive Director Dorman explained that back in the early to mid 1990s, both Diesel Specialties and Interstate Molding reached an agreement with the Port Authority to do a lease purchase on the buildings they were occupying. Diesel Specialties decided later to transfer their agreement to Interstate Molding. The contract on the Diesel Specialties building is coming to an end and Interstate Molding has indicated they wish to exercise the purchase option. Looking back through the minutes it was difficult to verify if a public hearing was held in regards to this so it was decided to hold one now, noting that the contract is in place with Interstate Molding.
President Rasmussen opened the public hearing and asked for input from the public three times. Hearing no public input, he closed the public hearing.
5. RESOLUTION PA-11-14 SALE OF SOUTH BLDG. NO. 3
With the board given the background of the sale under the previous item, and hearing no public input, Commissioner Brooks made a motion to approve the sale as described in the contract, seconded by Commissioner Kehr. President Rasmussen asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 6 in favor; 0 opposed. (Commissioner Skophammer entered here.)
6. HUNTING WORKS – LETTER OF SUPPORT
Hunting Works for Minnesota exists to promote the strong economic partnership between the hunting and shooting communities and the local economy of Minnesota. Its members include sporting retailers big and small, restaurant owners, hotel, motel and resort operators, gas stations and convenience stores, hunting and shooting organizations, chambers of commerce and of course all the taxpayers of Minnesota (hunters and non-hunters alike) who benefit economically and aesthetically from the license fees, taxes, and jobs the hunting and shooting industry provides both directly and indirectly.
Hunting Works advocates for public policy that supports jobs and economic prosperity. As a grassroots organization, they help tell the story of the role hunting and shooting sports play in both the heritage and economic health of Minnesota. They have contacted us asking for a letter of support. Commissioner Ehn made a motion to approve the letter of support, seconded by Commissioner Fligge. President Rasmussen asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 7 in favor; 0 opposed.
7. REPRESENTATIVE RICH MURRAY
Executive Director Dorman introduced Representative Rich Murray and explained that he asked Rep. Murray to join us to discuss local economic development and what is being done at the state level to replace the JOBZ program.
Rep. Murray explained that Rep. Gunther and his committee are working on developing new tools to help communities with economic development, but that the members of the legislature from the metro areas are very much against the JOBZ program and ethanol related projects. He stated that Greater MN needs to do a better job of telling their story of what their needs are. He also mentioned that talking about new programs is great, but the state doesn’t have extra money so funding these programs is a major issue. It was discussed that Iowa has a large pot of money set aside for state economic development projects, which hurts us even more. Rep. Murray explained that during these times of funding issues the state needs to focus on statewide changes such as tax code changes, regulation efficiency, etc. to make MN more competitive nationally.
Executive Director Dorman explained that we need to do a better job of working together with our neighboring communities to have a bigger voice and shared the example of how the MSP/St. Paul area is very good at doing this. He also talked about how the economic development tools are different today than they were just a few years ago.
It turned into a roundtable discussion and board members spoke about how the border state battle affects our area, how new revenues from things such as state run casinos or even some help from the Indian casinos would help. They discussed different tax ideas, how we need to be one MN and not metro vs. rural. Also discussed was the idea of regional EDAs to bring people together. DEED already has regional reps that are looking out for multiple counties but they currently have no funding, direction or state tools to offer to their counties.
Rep. Murray thanked everybody for their input and he will take all of this information back to the state. He did remind us again that there currently is no money to fund programs so we need to be looking at all revenue ideas.
President Rasumussen thanked Rep. Murray for coming to the meeting and Rep. Murray said feel free to contact him anytime.
8. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
• Meat Packing Prospect – This group visited a couple Saturdays ago and presented their project for over 2 hours. It turned into more of an investor pitch then an actual project or site visit. They would like a follow-up meeting but Executive Director Dorman has asked for more specific information about the project before they schedule another meeting.
• Energis Inc. – This is a wind tower maintenance group that is going to rent the Kleentec space that Vestas, the wind tower maintenance group for the Bent Tree Wind Farm, was renting. We offered to help if they decide to build a facility.
• Schipp’s Power Wash – They need more space so we recommended they look at building a facility on Freeborn-Mower Coop’s land by Ernie’s Canvas. They are talking to Jim Krueger at FMCS.
• Ventura – We have the updated refrigeration and lighting upgrade numbers and will provide Ray Roberts at Ventura a lease proposal in the next few weeks. It is an $115,000 investment to upgrade the refrigeration and lights in that space.
• Carpenter – We just got the new lease back from Dan Kolker, one of the attorneys we use, and will be sending this on to Carpenter soon. It contains the same lease rate as the last lease; however, adds new language to specify who is responsible for different types of maintenance and assessments.
• Sewer & Water Rate Study – A 2011 utility rate survey was handed out and reviewed. Staff also handed out a copy of the Gametec water and sewer bill for discussion and noted that we will be changing from a 3” water meter to something around 1” because of the huge amount of monthly savings provided by doing this.
• MCHS Project Update – Mayo has two more reviews to go through before the project can move forward.
• Commissioner Ehn’s term ends 12/31/11 – just an FYI to the board.
• County Commissioner funding meeting – Executive Director Dorman described the annual ALBDC funding request meeting with the county board, what the Port Authority and Greater Jobs contribute towards the ALBDC, and Commissioner Shoff’s request to have a commissioner as a voting member on the ALEDA board. Dorman asked for any further input from County Commissioner Lee and he stated that he doesn’t see the ALBDC receiving the $10,000 from the county in 2012.
• Revolving Loan Fund – We are working with City Manager Adams on updating the process and Executive Director Dorman described how the process worked for the Interstate Packaging loan.
9. EX-OFFICIO UPDATE
Freeborn County – Mike Lee
• The elimination of the homestead tax is severely affecting the county budget.
• Shell Rock Wind Farm is still moving forward.
• The county board recently set their preliminary levy.
• Commissioner Moore asked about the Bent Tree income and recommended that the county board use that to offset existing expenses instead of finding new programs to spend it on.
• Monday Sept. 19th there will be an open house at biodiesel plant near Glenville.
City of Albert Lea – Chad Adams
• City Council had a budget meeting Monday night. Even at a 0% levy increase the high end residential and commercial/industrial property owners are going to see a 5-15% increase due to changes at the state level. He is recommending a 2% levy increase.
• LGA reduction is going to be around $600,000.
• There is an open house downtown tonight to discuss the Broadway Ridge Grant program and the latest version of the sign ordinance.
• At a recent council retreat it was decided to put a focus on revitalizing the downtown.
• Tomorrow night there will be a joint meeting with the Council and County Commissioners.
Chamber of Commerce – Randy Kehr
• Sept. 27th at 6:30pm in the Freeborn Room there will be a presentation on property taxes.
• Mrs. Gerry’s is receiving an award from Twin Cities Business magazine.
10. COMMISSIONER ITEMS – None
11. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Moore made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Skophammer. The motion carried 6 in favor, 0 opposed. The meeting adjourned at 9:05 a.m.
Filed and attested September 7, 2011.