HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Agency - Minutes - 10/17/2023MINUTES OF THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY
Government Services Center, County Board Room
515 W Fir Ave, Fergus Falls MN 56537
October 17, 2023
Call to Order
The Otter Tail County Community Development Agency convened at 1:42 p.m., Tuesday, October 17,
2023. Attendance was as follows:
Present in
person
Present via
Technology
Absent
Board Members:
Jeff Ackerson x
Dena Johnson x
Val Martin x
Kurt Mortenson x
Dave Ripley x
Betsy Roder x
Lee Rogness x
Dave Schornack x
Staff:
Amy Baldwin, CDA Director x
Sarah Schake, Project Manager x
Erik Osberg, Rural Rebound Initiative Coordinator x
Paula Grunewald, HRA Administrative Assistant x
Others:
Julie Bakken, HRA Accounting Specialist x
Approval of Agenda
Approval of Agenda was approved as presented.
Approval of Consent Agenda
Motion by Val Martin, second by Dena Johnson to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion passed
unanimously.
Reports and Presentations
Director’s Report:
Amy Baldwin, CDA Director report included:
Youth Workforce Navigation Parents Guide – The new booklet was mailed to 2,500
households with names and addresses provided by the area school districts
Hundreds of students have been participating in field trips to such businesses as
o Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive
o Youth Skills Approved
Childcare – some funds are available, leverage money, Parker’s Prairie childcare has
reopened.
On the Map Report
Erik Osberg, Rural Rebound Initiative Coordinator stated:
2
Long-form lifestyle docu-series, “Rural By Choice”, has won an Emmy.
Talent Tourism held a “small town safari” with 13-14 U of M students visiting. Students didn’t
realize that there was this much opportunity and felt welcomed.
Otter Tail Lakes Country Association’s member drive is underway.
Minnesota Gopher athletics partnership is continuing to put Otter Tail County on the map
Have contracted with two part-time individuals to support the organization’s efforts
Board Member Updates
Lee Rogness suggested a potential CDA Board Member
Regular Business Items
None.
Discussion and Communications
Director Baldwin presented information on total funding for Navigating the Road Ahead Programs from
Otter Tail County and outside funds, expenses as of 09/30/23 and if the program was done or not.
These programs include:
o Empowered Worker/Skills Training
o Job Portal - done
o Youth Workforce Navigation
o Business Resilience - done
o Childcare – funding from State and West Central Initiative; State dollars need to be used
by end of December
A small amount is undesignated, as some efforts that are closed out were under original budget
estimates. Commissioners questioned if funding could be moved around (answer was yes) and if is
there a time frame that we have to use these funds (in some instances yes). CDA will guide these
movements.
It was confirmed that December’s meeting will be held on Monday, December 18.
Upcoming meeting:
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 @ 1:00 p.m., Commissioners Room, Government Services Center
with HRA Board meeting @ 11:45 a.m.
Adjourned
Meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.