Extends GESP contract six months
THE MOUNTAIN LAKE City Council. Seated front, from left, Council Member Dana Kass, Mayor Mike Nelson and Council Member Darla Kruser. Standing back, Council Member Andrew Ysker, left and Council Member David Savage, right.
The Mountain Lake City Council took action moving forward on a new industrial park in southwest Mountain Lake at its Monday, October 17 meeting by approving the purchase of the property parcel, signing of the purchase agreement and calling for the issuance and sale of taxable General Obligation Tax Abatement Bonds. However, that activity proceeded on a council split decision.
The purchase price for the 26.1-acre parcel, located immediately southwest of the city, north of Minnesota State Highway 60 and east of Cottonwood County Road 27, was $342,000. The property was owned by the Mabel Pankratz Trust.
Prior to the vote, an updated preliminary cost estimate, prepared by Bolton & Menk, to install surfaced roads, curb-and-gutter, water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer on the property was reviewed by Rob Anderson, Mountain Lake Economic Development Authority (EDA) Director. The cost difference between a 44′ roadbed and a 38′ roadbed was noted.
Tammy Omdal of Northland Securities reviewed details of the proposed bond sale that would be used to fund the land purchase, and provided some information on a future bond sale to finance the infrastructure. The presentation included the impact of the land and the infrastructure debt on property taxes for residential and commercial properties in “best” and “worst” case scenarios.
Several businesses have expressed an interest in locating ion the new industrial park.
Various aspects of installing infrastructure during 2017 were discussed. Also considered were lot costs and incentives. Both Anderson and Omdal noted that businesses want “shovel-ready” sites, and both spoke to the risks and rewards of purchasing and developing the industrial park.
In a unanimous decision, council members approved the authorization to sign an Advisory Service Agreement with Northland Securities.
Differences arose when motions were presented to purchase the parcel and sign the purchase agreement, as well as calling for the sale of bonds to finance the development of the new industrial park.
By a similar 3-2 vote on a pair of motions (Mayor Mike Nelson and Council Members David Savage and Andrew Ysker in favor, with Council Members Dana Kass and Darla Kruser opposed), approved were the parcel purchase and authorization to sign the purchase agreement, as well a call for the issuance and sale of $366,000 taxable General Obligation Tax Abatement Bonds.
Below is a look a the proposed industrial park, as designed by Bolton & Menk:
Council extends GESP contract
The final Guaranteed Energy Savings Program (GESP) report, has been prepared by McKinstry, but will not be presented until it has been reviewed by staff from the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Council members approved a six-month contract extension with McKinstry.
In other business
+ Adopted a Public Utilities resolution attaching unpaid utility bills on four property parcels.
+ Reviewed the 2016 Budget. Discussed were the fund balances, expenses and revenues for the first three quarters of the year. Also a topic touched on is the effect electric rate increases have on the city’s budget.
+ Authorized a utility-Insured Cash Sweep Account. On April 1, the city has moved to Insured Cash Sweep (ICS), a different way of providing collateral tracking (pledging) for city accounts at United Prairie Bank (UPB). UPB requested that the municipal utility have an ICS account separate from the city’s account.
+ Heard an update on public nuisance abatement efforts for a parcel on Third Avenue.
+ Approved a resolution to permit gambling (raffle) at a Mountain Lake Area Chamber of Commerce event to be held on Saturday, November 26, at Sweet Fields, waiving the 30-day waiting period.
+ Closed the open meeting to open a closed meeting, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 179.01 -179A.25, to consider union contract negotiation strategies. After 32 minutes, the closed meeting was closed and the open meeting reopened. No action was taken.
City of Mountain Lake Meeting Dates
+ Mountain Lake City Council meets the first and third Mondays of every month at 6:30 p.m.
+ Utilities Commission meets the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at 7 a.m.
+ Economic Development Authority (EDA) meets the second Friday of every month at 12 noon.
+ Lake Commission meets the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m.
+ Library Board meets the second Wednesday of every month at 4:45 p.m.
+ Police Commission meets the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m.
+ Planning and Zoning meets the last Monday of the month, if needed.
+ Tree Commission meets quarterly – January, April, July and October – at 7:45 p.m.
