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