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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Agency - Minutes - 08/20/2024MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY Government Services Center, County Board Room 515 W Fir Ave, Fergus Falls MN 56537 August 20, 2024 Call to Order The Otter Tail County Community Development Agency convened at 1:03pm, August 20, 2024. Dave Schornack, CDA 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 Kurt Mortenson x 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 Kris Vipond, Assistant Finance Director x 2. Approval of Agenda Approval of Agenda motion was made to approve as presented with the addition of Kris Vipond, Assistant Finance Director, providing updates. 3. Approval of Consent Agenda Motion by Jeff Ackerson, second by Dave Ripley to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Reports and Presentations Kris Vipond, Assistant Finance Director stated  A new accountant has been hired by the County and will be assigned to CDA. She should be attending the next board meeting. She and Julie Bakken, who supports the HRA, will cross train between CDA and HRA.  CDA Commissioners can elect to receive their meeting per diem by Automated Clearing House (ACH). Kris Vipond left the meeting at this time. A, B, C. Director’s Status Report and Committee Reports Amy Baldwin, CDA Director reported:  Progress of North Fields of Dalton.  Minnesota Housing Workforce Housing Financing Application in Battle Lake. New York Mills South Point Apartments open house was on August 17.  Empowered Worker Program has had much interest and demand. There have been 19 referrals, 18 of those are being active, excited and motivated. She stated the wide range of referrals, eligibility barriers, unstable housing, the range of occupations of interest and the first enrollment was in the CDL Program. A decision was made to pause the intake of referrals in August to focus on individualized navigational services with plans to reopen in early September. A monthly report will be included in the CDA packet.  The first business development newsletter was distributed; it was created by Ava Weber, CDA intern, prior to her internship concluding and was distributed to 1200 businesses. A lender event is planned for October/November.  The general CDA newsletter was also distributed. D. On the Map Report Erik Osberg, Rural Rebound Initiative Coordinator stated  The new metrics report will be available at the end of September. At the end of July there had been 11.8M impressions while in 2023 there had been a total of 12.5M impressions. Google Search had 3.5M impressions.  Gopher Lake Life has an upcoming event with a stay at Holly’s Resort.  The 2nd Annual On The Map Marketing Summit will be held on Wednesday, September 25 at Perham Lakeside Golf. Board Member Updates  Dave Schornack: Perham streets are completed and Bongards is constructing an addition to their facility.  Dena Johnson: Pelican Rapids Street Project is going well and that they were able to begin a stage of construction originally planned for a 2025 start.  Lee Rogness: Noted that the agriculture economy has seen an increase in costs and interest rates. He also stated that this year will be one of the largest soybean and corn crops.  Betsy Roder: It has been busy in New York Mills most recently with the Puppet Pageant. On September 17th there will be a Welcoming Communities event. Pickletoberfest will be held on October 5, the new apartment building – South Point Apartments - will be opening soon, and the Continental Divide Brew Pub has been busy.  Val Martin: Battle Lake will be handing out teacher packets with Art of the Lakes, scavenger hunts are planned, tailgating will be held to recognize the fire department, Community Zentangle Project for Art Alley and a new school is in the works.  Amy Baldwin also stated that 75 Packets will be handed out to welcome new teachers to various districts throughout the County. 5. Regular Business Items A. 2025 Levy Request Resolution Approving Special Benefit Levy and Requesting a General Levy Appropriation for Taxes Payable 2024. Amy Baldwin, CDA Director, shared the 2023 and 2024 Special Levy Benefits for both CDA and HRA and the 2024 CDA General Levy. The Agency has determined that the 2025 CDA Special Benefit Levy in the amount of $644,287 and $200,000 appropriation from the General Levy is requested for the 2025 Agency’s strategic initiatives. With the CDA Board’s approval she will be presenting this request to the County Board on Thursday, August 22, 2024. Motion by Kurt Mortenson, second by Dena Johnson to approve. Motion passed unanimously. B. Authorize Execution of Realtor Services Agreement for Pinewood Estates Amy Baldwin, CDA Director, stated that earth work has started in Pelican Rapids and is on schedule. The same contractor that has been doing the road work in Pelican Rapids will be working on the project. CDA is ready to move ahead with a realtor partner. An RFP was sent out July 6, 2024 with proposals due on July 29, 2024. The proposal was to include three single family homes and the remaining lots plus a HRA lot for realtor services. Three proposals were submitted and scored, with Andrew Yaggie receiving the highest score. His proposed commission is 5% with no brokerage fees; he has four years of experience and provides marketing services with a development website, drone photography, professional photography, ground and aerial video and virtual tour. The Otter Tail County HRA has approved the proposal contingent on CDA approval. Motion by Lee Rogness, second by Val Martin to approve Andrew Yaggie Real Estate for Realtor Services. Motion passed unanimously. Dave Ripley suggested that we add an end date, terms and/or an out to the agreement. C. Recommendation Regarding Property Tax Rebate Program Amy Baldwin, CDA Director, provided the Commissioners with background to the Property Tax Rebate Program. The program was established in 2019 for a three-year term, with a County property tax rebate of up to five years or $5,000. In the fall of 2021, the program was modified for recipients to receive up to $10,000 and two additional years to the program. Applicants can apply for tax rebates thru the end of 2024 with construction required to start within a year of application. Program options were discussed. Motion by Dena Johnson, second by Jeff Ackerson to approve letting the program expire at the end of 2024 with the applicant’s ability to start construction prior to the end of 2025 (one year after approval). Motion passed unanimously. 6. Discussion and Communications A. Other Communications Amy Baldwin, CDA Director  MN State NAHRO Conference is September 16, 17 and 18, 2024.  Suggestion to choose a meeting day other than Tuesdays for 2025 B. Upcoming Meeting Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 1:00pm, Commissioner’s Room, Government Services Center with HRA Board meeting at 11:45am. 7. Adjourned Meeting adjourned at 2:25pm.