Adopt issuance, sale of TIF bonds for Mountain Power Hydraulics building addition project
The Mountain Lake City Council decided at their Monday, April 21 meeting to apply for a Great Blue Earth River Basin Alliance (GBERBA) Cooperative Weed Management Grant of $3,125.
Dave Bucklin, employee of the Soil and Water Conservation District, and member of the Lake Commission, was on hand to explain that the grant will provide funds for the removal of buckthorn, wild parsnip, leafy splurge, poison ivy and other weeds on public (city- and state-owned) land along the Mountain Lake shoreline. A total of 57 acres that include – the lake shoreline from the boat landing south and around to Heppner’s Point on the east (13 acres), the “island” in the northwest ( six acres) and land to the lake’s west and southwest that also includes “second island” (38 acres) are included in the project area.
When areas are cleared of the non-native plants, native tree species will be planted.
This work will take place in 2014-2015, following grant approval.
The control will take the form of physically removing plants in conjunction with a chemical treatment, chemical treatment alone and education local residents in the identification of the plants and basic management that can help mitigate the negative effects of invasive non-natives in the environment.
Education will take the form of working with high school classes in Mountain Lake for in-field or classroom demonstrations, and field days for volunteers. Also included will be presentations to the City Council and Lake Commission and to the broader community through articles and signage on the public Mountain Lake Trail that runs through the area.
A Department of Natural Resources (DNR) permit has been secured for the work on the state land. Much of this work will complement previous invasive species control work and native plantings. This work project will additionally open new areas for planting to guarantee success of previous work through continued invasive species control.
The total project cost will be $5,750, with in-kind 50% of the labor and education hours of $2,625, leaving the $3,125 grant request for completion of the project.
Another step ahead for Mountain Power Hydraulics building addition project
Council members approved the issuance and sale of $2,040,000 taxable General Obligation (GO) Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Bonds and accepted rent payments for their security from Mountain Power Hydraulics for their building addition project.
Tammy Omdahl of Northland Securities reviewed the bond sale with council, noting that the interest on the 15-year bonds if 4.24%, and that the bonds will be repaid by lease payments made by Mountain Power Hydraulics.
In other business
* Appointed Heather Funk to the Lake Commission.
* Approved the sale of unneeded, excess production capacity acquired as part of a power purchase contract, to Missouri River Energy Services through Central Minnesota Municipal Power Agency. Mountain Lake Municipal Utilities had received the offer. The Utility will receive $125 a month the first year of the two-year contract, and $250 per month the second year.
* Learned that the bid documents for a new city well – Well #7 – need to be reviewed by Small Cities Development Program staff after the awards have been announced. That expected announcement date is Tuesday, May 6. The council tabled t