04-21-2020 EDC Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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EDC Minutes Apri121, 2020 Page 3 of 7 ----------------------------- opportunities relating to income producing housing and the ability for home buyers to work from home. Mr. Jurchen stated that we are currently in the data gathering phase. He stated that he has the inventory done on all the areas that have sewer and water and he is doing an Excel spreadsheet on that. He stated that he is about a fourth of the way through lots that are not on sewer and water but have paved roads in front of them. He said they will get an inventory on homes that will need rehab or demolishing and lots that are available inside and outside of the Sewer and Water District. Mr. Jurchen then believes they need to meet with the HRA, realtors and contractors once the data is reviewed by the EDC and City to do some analysis of it to determine where to go from there and if there should be any incentives programs or assistance from the City. Ms. Malecha stated that she will reach out to Patty Norgaard about the EDA meeting that was supposed to be in the beginning of April where the housing study was going to be presented to see if they are going to do some type of a virtual meeting. She said if they are not going to do that at this time she will see if John Schommer from the Brainerd HRA who was going to present maybe would do a zoom call for the EDC at the next meeting so this can continue to move forward. 7. Rasmussen Road/South Washinqton Avenue Fiber Optic Infrastructure Update Commissioner Crochet stated that TDS does have a design completed and a business case set up for Pequot Lakes for fiber. He said they are just waiting for the Corporate Partners to review the plan and give approval. He said he does not expect approval until we know exactly what is going to happen COVID-19 but they are ready to go for a complete overbuild of the City. Commissioner Crochet said when it comes Rasmussen Road they are replacing their existing infrastructure and including some spare conduit so that when they do get the money for the complete overbuild the conduit will already be in place so they will not have to do any digging up of East Woodman, Rasmussen Road or Main Street. He said TDS also signed a contract with Noble Title and they will be putting in fiber into Noble Title. He said it will be run down Main Street, go in the alley behind Lucky's and then up to Oriole St. He said they will be putting breakout nodes at certain locations so they can hit other businesses when needed. He is hoping to get some good news within the next month or so that we will be doing some type of overbuild in the City very soon. Commissioner Lelwica asked him to explain the overbuild and what does that mean for the consumer. Commissioner Crochet stated that it will be faster because with the copper that is in place now you are limited to speeds based on the distance from the connection to the copper but once fiber is in the speeds will be unlimited. He discussed that when copper was put in back in the sixties internet was really just a thing that the government was playing around with and the copper was designed for phone service not internet.