HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Agency - Minutes - 09/02/2026MINUTES OF THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY
Government Services Center, County Board Room
515 W Fir Ave, Fergus Falls MN 56537
September 2, 2026
Call to Order
The Otter Tail County Community Development Agency convened at 11:02 am, Wednesday, September
2, 2026. 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 Joined at 11:32
Val Martin X
Kurt Mortenson X
Betsy Roder X
Heidi Samuelson X
Bob Schempp Jr. X
Dave Schornack X
Sean Sullivan X
Staff:
Amy Baldwin, CDA Director X
Tanya Westra, Housing Program Supervisor X
Sarah Bernstetter, Project Manager X
Erik Osberg, Rural Rebound Initiative Coordinator X
Aann Christopherson, CDA Accountant X
Paige Carlson, Project Manager X
Paula Grunewald, HRA Administrative Assistant X
2. Approval of Agenda
Approval of Agenda motion was made by Sean Sullivan, second by Val Martin, and unanimously
carried to approve as presented with the addition of 5B Community Growth Partnership Grant
Application: 917 Pebble Lake Road, Fergus Falls.
3. Approval of Consent Agenda
Motion by Kurt Mortenson, second by Jeff Ackerson to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion passed
unanimously.
4. Reports and Presentations
A. Director’s Status Report:
Workforce – enrollment has started with one participant in the ag field.
Received an invite to a non-profit that supports coal impacted communities to submit a full
application for funding to support the Empowered Worker Program.
M State Student Welcome Bus Tour was held with Sarah Bernstetter in attendance.
Manufacturing month – coordinating with Elevate with tours in New York Mills, Fergus Falls,
rural Vergas, Battle Lake, and Parkers Prairie.
Business resource marketing efforts will continue.
B. Committee Reports
Housing Growth and Investment
Pelican Rapids Housing Workshop will be held this fall.
New York Mills Housing Workshop will take place later this year.
Commissioner Schornack asked if we could get the West Initiative Funds involved.
Workforce
Discussed during the Director’s Status Report.
C. On the Map Report
Erik Osberg, Rural Rebound Initiative Coordinator stated
The Digital Marketing Summit will be held November 5 at East Silent Lake Resort.
The Gopher relationship carries on with football and hockey attendance on the same night.
Sarah Bernstetter, CDA Project Manager, shared the workforce inflow and outflow report from
Census.gov.
D. Board Member Updates – none
5. Regular Business Items
A. City of Fergus Falls Community Growth Partnership Grant Application: Northeast Residential Park
Conceptual Layout
Amy Baldwin, CDA Director stated that the City of Fergus Falls is requesting planning funds to
support conceptual planning on a Port Authority owned site identified for residential development.
Interstate Engineering will prepare a conceptual site layout, infrastructure analysis, and update
preliminary engineering report for the property. The request is $5,000 with the balance to be funded
by the Fergus Falls Port Authority at $9,000 and Otter Tail County Highway Department at $4,000.
Staff recommends approval. Motion by Kurt Mortenson, second by Sean Sullivan to approve the
$5,000 grant application. Motion passed unanimously.
B. City of Fergus Falls Community Growth Partnership Grant Application: 917 Pebble Lake Rd
Commercial Rehabilitation
The property is located at 917 Pebble Lake Road, Fergus Falls and owned by Frustol Management
LLC. The purpose is to rehab and renovate the building, for RZN Athletics. Amount requested is
$10,000, with total project costs exceeding $500,000. Grant funds would be used toward new
signage and exterior improvements. The City of Fergus Falls will be meeting next Tuesday to
consider the resolution of support, the application and sources of funds completed.
Two options were discussed
1. Approve on the condition that we receive complete application by the City, receive city
resolution and refer to Business Development Committee for review and final approval; or
2. Acknowledge that work may commence prior to approval and then bring back to board in
October to approve.
Motion by Sean Sullivan, second by Kurt Mortenson to approve the $10,000 grant amount with
stipulations that the full application must be received from the City of Fergus Falls, reviewed by the
Business Development Committee, and the resolution of support from the City of Fergus Falls be
received, with an acknowledgement that work may commence prior to execution of the Grant
Agreement. Motion passed unanimously.
6. Discussion and Communications
A. Project Updates:
a. Vine Street Rehabilitation – work is progressing.
b. Westridge Mall – Adjoining property separation work continues. County Facilities Staff are
monitoring.
B. Other Communications:
a. Either Amy Baldwin or Tanya Westra will be unable to attend October’s meeting due to NAHRO
conference.
b. Dave Schnorack will be unable to attend October’s meeting as scheduled.
C. Upcoming meeting:
a. Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 11:00 am, Otter Tail Lake Room, Government Services Center
with HRA Board meeting at 12:45 pm.
7. Adjourned