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Economic Development Commission Minutes February 21,2017 Page 3 of 4 • Send out another letter to the folks who have not contributed on the list. • Not all businesses in Pequot Lakes were contacted. Chair Jurchen suggested contacting Pequot Promoters and Community Action for their contact lists. Nancy Malecha stated Pequot Promoters is hesitant to share their list. • Commissioner Lubke requested Nancy Malecha to send a request from the EDC to the City of Jenkins to support the Thriving Communities Initiative; • Directed Nancy Malecha to make another attempt with the list; • Sheila Haverkamp shared contact information for Minnesota Power and Crow Wing Power. b. Economy Task Force—branding&marketing Commissioner Rieck explained the Task Force is asking how zthe EDC envisions branding and marketing of Pequot Lakes in the future. Suggestions were • Pequot Lakes has the same opportunities as the large cities; • Big city with small town atmosphere; • Same opportunities without the traffic; • Small town; big opportunities. 6. Open Meeting Law Nancy Malecha explained the EDC is subject to the Open Meeting Law. A quorum of members at an outside meeting needs to be posted. Emails are also subject to the Open Meeting Law; do not click"Reply All"when replying to an email from Staff. She also explained serials meetings. The EDC is considered a subcommittee of the Council. 7. School Update Commissioner Lindholm stated he looks at enrollment and demographics this time of year. The population is down in grades K-4 at approximately 100 per class,with grades 5— 12 up. Grades 11 & 12 are 140 and 150,respectively. Rural Minnesota birth rates are going down. Economic development is a key factor. Employers need to attract diversity. 8. Chamber Update Jenna Crawford was unable to attend today and should be back in our community soon. 9. BLAEDC Update Sheila Haverkamp announced March 6 is their annual meeting. She and Mike Bjerkness met with Jim Kraft and discussed the branding component, as well as redevelopment of the irrigation fields as a sports complex, Business Park expansion, and data center. There is also a new regional brand—The Good Life.