09-17-2019 EDC Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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EDC Minutes September 17, 2019 Page 5 of 7 � ----------------------------- discuss the incentive plan more. He asked to see if in the next couple of months that they start to frame something that sounds like a reasonable proposal for our Grow Zone area that has been called out in our Comp Plan. Ms. Malecha stated that she will reach out to the City Planner too and get his thoughts on this as well because the Planning Commission is working on updating the Downtown Plan at this time as well. 8. School Uqdate Chair Lindholm stated that the football and tennis teams are winning. He said they are hiring three teaching positions at Eagle View. He said one is due to growth and numbers came in higher than expected at the primary level which he states is important to know from an economic development viewpoint. Chair Lindholm stated that there has been a four or five year pattern of consistent move-ins into the middle school and high school but the Kindergarten to second grade class sizes all jumped up between ten and fifteen kids each which blew away the schools class size guidelines. Discussion ensued about open enrollment and growth in the Pequot School District. Commission Holley praised Chair Lindholm and the School on what a good job they are doing. She talked about how people searching for homes always ask about places in the Pequot Lakes school district. �-' 9. Chamber Update Katie Wasserman said the Chamber sent off a survey about doing an event in the winter and they only got 20 responses. She stated that they are partnering with the Public Works Department and received approval from the Park Commission to Light the Night and Trailside Park. Ms. Wasserman said they are hoping to have businesses sponsor a light sculpture that is placed in the park so that when people come to town, they see the business. She stated that they have two sponsors already and that they are trying to bring a little more excitement into town by giving people a destination to have along with shopping. Ms. Wasserman said it will also bring great benefits for the businesses because she will be promoting them social media. She stated that they already have an article thaYs going to appear in the newspaper and she will be doing community focus on WJJY. Discussion ensued about a date and that they are expecting all sponsorships by November 1 St. Ms. Wasserman said they would like to have a lighting ceremony once alt the sponsorships are in. Ms. Wasserman stated that the Brainerd Chamber is working on a new website and Pequot Chamber should get a new one in February which will function a lot better. She said it will be easier to navigate and easier to look at the Business Directory listing to find a business location. Ms. Wasserman said she is working with the Lion's Club and Crow Wing Energized to bring a bike repair station to the Chamber building. She said that in �-- the last finro summers they have sent probably 25 people to other towns because