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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Agency - Minutes - 06/04/2025MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY Government Services Center, County Board Room 515 W Fir Ave, Fergus Falls MN 56537 June 4, 2025 Call to Order The Otter Tail County Community Development Agency convened at 11:00 am, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Dave Schornack, CDA Board Chair 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 Betsy Roder x Heidi Samuelson x Dave Schornack x Bob Schempp Jr. x Sean Sullivan 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 Julie Bakken, HRA Accountant x Paula Grunewald, HRA Administrative Assistant x Aisling Cox, CDA Intern x Others: Jordan Grossman, Pelican Rapids CEDA/EDA Director x Approval of Agenda The agenda was to stand as presented. Approval of Consent Agenda Motion by Val Martin, second by Dena Johnson to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion passed unanimously. Amy Baldwin, CDA Director, introduced Aisling Cox, CDA Intern and also noted that Julie Bakken, HRA Accountant, will be attending both the CDA and HRA Board Meetings as there have been adjustments within the Finance team. Reports and Presentations A. Director’s Report:  The Housing Summit, held on May 14, had nearly 100 attendees. A link to the event recording was included in the board report.  There have been 87 referrals to the Empowered Work Program. The program is opening to external referrals with prioritization of expending State Drive for 5 funds before County funding. OTTERTAIL COUNTY -MINNESOTA  The County was awarded an $8,000 grant from West Central Initiative. The funding will help provide supportive services like work attire, transportation needs, and technology access to Empowered Worker participants.  Aisling Cox, CDA Intern, will be working on a return on investment analysis related to the Empowered Worker program. Business Development  National Small Business Week was recognized May 4-10  DEED Paid Leave Public Outreach Grant was submitted requesting $50,000 to help employers and employees with compliance and utilization of the new Minesota Paid Leave Program that takes effect in January 2026 Child Care  Child Care Provider Appreciation Day was recognized on May 9. Small gifts were hand delivered to all licensed providers and centers. B. Committee Reports Notes from the Workforce Support and Digital Equity and Business Development committees were included in the packet. C. On the Map Report Erik Osberg, Rural Rebound Initiative Coordinator, reported continued strong digital impressions; Tasha Rohlfs is the new Brand Ambassador for OTLCA; Grace, summer staffer is returning from last year; changes will be made to the website to make it more user friendly. D. Board Member Updates Commissioner Dena Johnson stated that there is much road construction going on in Pelican Rapids, as well as a new coffee shop and remodeling occurring at the old Family Dollar location. Regular Business A. Community Growth Partnership Grant Application: City of Pelican Rapids Housing Infrastructure Amy Baldwin, CDA Director, stated that at the March 5, 2025 Board Meeting, the CDA had approved an application from the City of Pelican Rapids for a Community Growth Partnership Grant in regard to a housing public infrastructure match. Since that time, an application with updated sources of funding has been submitted for extending road, sewer, water and stormwater infrastructure in the City of Pelican Rapids to support new housing development with a total cost of $655,000. The grant funding will support the City in submitting an application for the Great MN Housing Infrastructure Grant program as the program requires non-state dollars as a match. Motion by Sean Sullivan, second by Dena Johnson to approve the grant request and to direct staff to prepare the necessary agreement to include an 18-month grant timeline. Motion passed unanimously. Commissioners questioned how the Community Growth Partnership Grant Program was funded. Amy Baldwin, CDA Director, stated that in 2021, $2M was allocated to the CDA by Otter Tail County from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). These resources are being used to fund the housing infrastructure match program as well as other housing related loans. Commissioners responded that this money is used on good projects for our communities. B. Community Growth Partnership Grant Application: City of Pelican Rapids Private Commercial Rehabilitation Amy Baldwin, CDA Director stated that an application from the City of Pelican Rapids for a Community Growth Partnership Grant had been submitted for the Do Drop Inn. The lease holders of property located at 1008 S. Broadway, Pelican Rapids, the former Family Dollar building, are seeking a grant in the amount $10,000 to be used toward window replacement. These funds would help support the rehabilitation of the building to be used as a laundromat, gym, and additional rental space. Miscommunication resulted in the submission of the initial grant application after the project had begun work; however, the windows had not yet been installed. Policy for the Community Growth Partnership Grant states that work must not be started before approval of the application. As of today’s meeting, the windows have already been installed. Motion by Dena Johnson, second by Val Martin to deny the grant request. Motion passed unanimously. Discussion and Communications A. Project Updates: a. Pinewood Estates, Pelican Rapids o Construction continues, we have received some inquiries – one was over income, another could not get financing; hoping for additional interest, outreach will be community focused. o Amy Baldwin, CDA Director asked for direction from the Board regarding communicating with Habitat for Humanity for a partnership on this project and others. Motion by Kurt Mortenson, second by Heidi Samuelson to allow communications with Habitat for Humanity. The Board requested a report to be provided at the July meeting. HRA will be applying for MN Housing Impact Funds. b. Westridge Mall, Fergus Falls o The property condition assessment and site utility assessment have been completed. o Staff are in communication with adjacent property owners and operating agreements are under review with those owners. o The Alta Survey is being prepared and the TIF eligibility assessment is underway. o Working on plans for fire system, water and sewer separations. B. Other Communications: Amy Baldwin, CDA Director, asked the Commissioners to inform us if they were unable to attend the July Board Meeting. Upcoming meeting: Wednesday, July 2, 2025 @ 11:00 am, Otter Tail Lake Room, Government Services Center with HRA Board meeting @ 12:45 pm. Adjourned Meeting adjourned at 11:55 am.