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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Agency - Minutes - 03/13/2024MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY Government Services Center, County Board Room 515 W Fir Ave, Fergus Falls, MN 56537 March 13, 2024 Call to Order The Otter Tail County Community Development Agency convened at 3:30pm, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Dave Schornack, CDA President, attended the meeting virtually from La Cantera Resort & Spa, 1664 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, TX, 78256. Jeff Ackerson, CDA Vice President, led the meeting. Attendance was as follows: Present in person Present via Technology Absent Board Members: Jeff Ackerson x Dena Johnson x Val Martin x x Kurt Mortenson Dave Ripley x Betsy Roder x Lee Rogness x Heidi Samuelson x Dave Schornack x Staff: Amy Baldwin, CDA Director x Tanya Westra, Housing Program Supervisor x Sarah Schake, Project Manager x Erik Osberg, Rural Rebound Initiative Coordinator x Paula Grunewald, HRA Administrative Assistant x 2. Approval of Agenda Approval of Agenda motion was made by Lee Rogness, second by Dave Schornack, and unanimously carried to approve as presented. CDA Board Yea Nay Absent Abstain Jeff Ackerson X Dena Johnson X Val Martin X Kurt Mortenson X Dave Ripley X Besty Roder X Lee Rogness X Heidi Samuelson X Dave Schornack X via Technology 3. Approval of Consent Agenda Motion by Kurt Mortenson, second by Dave Ripley to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion passed unanimously. CDA Board Yea Nay Absent Abstain Jeff Ackerson X Dena Johnson X Val Martin X Kurt Mortenson X Dave Ripley X Besty Roder X Lee Rogness X Heidi Samuelson X Dave Schornack X via Technology 4. Reports and Presentations A. Director’s Status Report • The February Housing Convening had 39 virtual attendees and several follow-up calls. • The Workforce Summit will be held on April 24th and over 50 people have signed up. Kelly Asche from Center for Rural Policy and Development will be the keynote speaker. • The County committed a 5% cash match ($6,250) Parker’s Prairie Panther Care Childcare Center towards their grant application to DEED for an expansion of their childcare. • Amy Baldwin was part of a panel at the Connecting One Minnesota State Broadband Conference held on March 12. B. Committee Reports Housing Growth and Investment No report as just met on Monday, March 11th Workforce Support and Digital Equity The committee discussed three goals for the coming year: 1. Develop and secure adequate funding 2. Broadband & digital opportunity 3. Sustainability solution to workforce challenges We received notice that the County was awarded grant funding in the amount of $250,000 through the Drive for 5 program; this will support a Workforce Navigator Position for three years. Business Development At the first meeting it was determined “what they are” and “what are the gaps to be filled”. C. On the Map Report Erik Osberg, Rural Rebound Initiative Coordinator reported: • There was a NIL visit with two MN Gopher students in Perham, which included a visit to Perham Health. • Otter Tail Lakes Country Association won an Explore Minnesota Tourism award. This was the 4th award won by OTLCA over the past 8 years and is a validation of the good work being done. • 30,000 copies of the Otter Tail Lakes Country magazine have been printed and are being distributed. D. Board Member Updates • Questions asked about the remodel of the hotel/motel in Fergus Falls and if it was going to be used for Workforce Housing. The answer was no. • Permanent supportive housing project by the YMCA. Lutheran Social Services (LSS) staff will be located on site and be the primary service provider. LRHC will provide health care staffing and Mahube-Otwa will determine resident eligibility. 5. Regular Business Items A. Community Growth Partnership Grant: Parkers Prairie Housing Study CDA Director, Amy Baldwin stated that overall this project is similar to the Pelican Rapids Study. Parkers Prairie CDA is requesting $5,000 and Parkers Prairie EDA will commit $4,750 in funds. This request has been reviewed by the Housing and Development Committee and is recommended. Motion by Dave Schornack, second by Dave Ripley to approve. Motion passed with Samuelson abstaining. CDA Board Yea Nay Absent Abstain Jeff Ackerson X Dena Johnson X Val Martin X Kurt Mortenson X Dave Ripley X Besty Roder X Lee Rogness X Heidi Samuelson X Dave Schornack X via Technology B. Community Growth Partnership Grant: Henning Farmstand Blight Request CDA Director, Amy Baldwin stated the City of Henning is requesting $16,000 in funding to support The Farmstand in the demolition of the blighted building to allow for construction of an outdoor patio adjacent to the restaurant at the corner of Douglas Ave and 2nd St. There would be a canopy over new concrete, landscaping, fencing, a bandshell, raised garden beds and outdoor firepits. At this time, there are no options for outdoor dining in Henning. She also stated she had attended the Henning City Council Meeting. Commissioner Rogness asked if there was any value to the old building – the response was no. Motion by Kurt Mortenson, second by Heidi Samuelson to approve. Motion passed unanimously. CDA Board Yea Nay Absent Abstain Jeff Ackerson X Dena Johnson X Val Martin X Kurt Mortenson X Dave Ripley X Besty Roder X Lee Rogness X Heidi Samuelson X Dave Schornack X via Technology C. Community Growth Partnership Grant: Dalton Public Infrastructure. The City of Dalton is requesting $62,000 for sewer and water infrastructure for the old Dalton mobile home site redevelopment project. The City is in partnership with OTC HRA to build Affordable Senior Housing and will have 9 additional lots for sale for single family homes. Discussion included: • The type of homes that would be built. • It was noted that the balance of the project could not be assessed to homeowners. • Other sources of funds being reviewed by the City include USDA Rural Development, a loan to the city by Minnesota Rural Water Association and/or cash reserves. • At this time there is has only been one bid from SF Excavating and to maintain the quote process there should be at least 2 bids. The Commissioners recommended to hold off until Dalton gets two competitive bids and has a timeline in order. D. Pinewood Estates: Authorization to Proceed with Demolition CDA Director, Amy Baldwin stated that the staff has solicited quotes for the demolition of the structures located at Pinewood Estates. Bids were submitted from Becker Transport & Aggregate, Budke Excavating & Septic Plus+ LLC, Egge Construction Inc. and Leitch Excavating. Leitch Excavating’s bid of $23,210 was recommended. Asbestos testing has not been done but will be done next week. County Sentence to Serve team has cleared trees from the site, which is a significant cost savings. Motion by Lee Rogness, second by Dave Ripley to approve accepting Leitch Excavating’s bid. Motion passed unanimously. CDA Board Yea Nay Absent Abstain Jeff Ackerson X Dena Johnson X Val Martin X Kurt Mortenson X Dave Ripley X Besty Roder X Lee Rogness X Heidi Samuelson X Dave Schornack X via Technology E. 2022 Community Development Agency Audit CDA Director, Amy Baldwin stated that the letter to the Board of Commissioners of the OTC CDA was included in the packet with a link to the full audit. She had nothing to call out to the Commissioners. The 2023 Audit entrance meeting will be held on Monday, March 18 at 10:00 am. A motion to accept the 2022 Community Development Agency Audit was made by Lee Rogness, second by Kurt Mortenson to approve. Motion passed unanimously. CDA Board Yea Nay Absent Abstain Jeff Ackerson X Dena Johnson X Val Martin X Kurt Mortenson X Dave Ripley X Besty Roder X Lee Rogness X Heidi Samuelson X Dave Schornack X via Technology 6. Discussion and Communications A. Pinewood Estate Review CDA Director, Amy Baldwin presented the MN Housing Impact Fund Award and Project Timeline. CDA has been awarded an Interim Loan in the amount of $950,000 and Value Gap Grant Funds in the amount of $762,000. For the Pinewood Estate project, CDA is on track with the infrastructure and establishing the TIF District in spring 2024. A community meeting for the Impact Fund award needs to be held. Over the summer, infrastructure construction will take place and Requests for bids for the new home construction will be issued, reviewed and awarded by the CDA. In the fall completion of the infrastructure (with exception of bituminous wear course which will be done in the spring of 2025) and the construction of homes can begin. She also stated there has been two big changes when comparing the funding award of the Pinewood Estate Project to the Battle Lake Hidden Meadows Project. With the Pinewood Estate Project there will not be a prevailing wage (used when 10 or fewer homes are built), and the length of time to complete construction will be 3 years instead of 20 months. Housing Program Supervisor, Tanya Westra, reported that the loan rate is usually lower than the bank rate when using Interim Construction Loans. At this time the rate has not been set. Income limits for homebuyers cannot exceed 115% the State’s Area Medium Income; income limits are updated annually. A community input meeting will take place in the next few months to aid staff on writing the bid specifications. Tanya Westra stated that an interpreter will be available at the meeting. It is anticipated that construction will be a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home on an unfinished basement with an attached 2 car garage either modular or site built. Minimum requirements will be listed in the bid specifications and contractors will submit their plans for review by staff. Commissioners suggested that the unfinished basement should be easily accessible for inside and outside, and basement windows should be egress. Amy Baldwin stated that there will be a resale provision requiring that if a home is sold within 15 years of purchasing the home that it must be sold to another qualified buyer. Minnesota Housing will issue contracts mid-April. Once received, the contract will be presented to the CDA Board. B. Other Communications • Amy Baldwin stated that a student from University of Morris would like to do an internship with the CDA. Funding for the internship would be with a small matching grant or the use of cash reserves. The base wage is $18.18 per hour and Amy is asking for authorization to allow her to hire the position. • Amy Baldwin stated that the County received funding for electric vehicles and would like one of the vehicles dedicated to CDA/HRA. We would be responsible for 20% of cost. C. Upcoming meeting: Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 1:00pm, Commissioner’s Room, Government Services Center with HRA Board meeting at 11:45am. 7. Adjourned Meeting adjourned at 4:31 pm.