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<br />MEETING OF THE PEQUOT LAKES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION <br />TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 <br />PEQUOT LAKES CITY HALL <br /> <br /> <br />Members Present: Chair Jurchen, Commissioners Holley (arrived late), Lindholm, Lubke, <br />and Rieck <br /> <br />Members Absent: Commissioner Sjoblad <br /> <br />Others Present: Bob Perkins, TDS; Dawn Bittner, Zoning Specialist; Sheila Haverkamp, <br />BLAEDC <br /> <br />1. Call Meeting to Order <br /> <br />The meeting was called to order by Chair Jurchen at 8:00 a.m. <br /> <br />2. Approve EDC Minutes <br /> <br />COMMISSIONER LUBKE MOVED APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 21, 2017 <br />ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MINUTES. COMMISSIONER <br />RIECK SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. <br /> <br />3. Broadband <br /> <br />a. Workforce Task Force Letter <br />(Included in discussion below) <br /> <br />b. Update from TDS – Bob Perkins <br />Bob Perkins reported the Design Team is meeting at TDS today. The Business Park is not <br />part of the grant. TDS has contacted all of the businesses in the Business Park and only one <br />or two expressed interest in fiber. <br /> <br />The Workforce Development Task Force through the Thriving Communities Initiative sent a <br />letter to the EDC to officially communicate the importance of expanding broadband <br />connectivity in the Pequot Lakes area. Chair Jurchen pointed out this is a workforce and <br />educational issue and that the EDC needs to have an estimate on cost for potential growth. <br />Fiber is infrastructure also and the City may need a partnership with TDS to get this done. <br />This is vital for the future. <br /> <br />Commissioner Lindholm asked if the request for costs include the expansion south of the <br />Baptist Church. Or is this is a separate option. Is it worth investing “X” to run fiber? What <br />does private industry put in and what does the City put in? <br />