09-20-2022 EDC Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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EDC Minutes September 20, 2022 Page 4 of 4 8. BLAEDC Update Angie Duus read update from Tyler Glynn: • BLAEDC is continuing to work through the apartment complex process with the City and Planning and Zoning Mr. Jurchen raised the questions of what our current contribution to BLAEDC is. Ms. Duus answered approximately$10,600. Mr. Jurchen suggested putting more money into BLAEDC or hiring a part-time Economic Developer. Commissioner Rieck stated that since their last meeting, she received an e-mail from Tyler Glynn saying that he was going to try to meet with the Brainerd HRA and see if they had any jurisdiction over what was happening with the Pequot Lakes HRA. She said Mayor Gardner and Rich Spiczka was also a part of this e- mail. She said this is a topic that is important to some residents of Pequot Lakes. Chair Lottman added he would be supportive of adding a part-time Economic Developer. He stated he had a bad experience with BLAEDC with buildings in Pequot Lakes and one in Jenkins. He said the best use of a dollar would be someone that is focused just on Pequot Lakes instead of County-wide. He said if we want the community to grow, we need to have someone focused on Pequot Lakes and said the person would still need to work with BLAEDC. 9. City of Jenkins Update No updates at this time. 10. Other Business Chair Lottman talked about the goal to support local businesses and keep them here. He stated that utilities and power are issues. Commissioner Rieck stated something that they tried several years ago was to take advantage of programs through the state where funding is available to businesses to assist them with updating buildings and improve aesthetics. She does not believe anyone took advantage of it and the same programs were explored for residents as well. Chair Lottman stated the state of South Dakota is an excellent example of how to support local businesses. He stated there are businesses in Jenkins that have the name"Pequot" in them and there are also two businesses that used to be Pequot Lakes where his building is but have moved to Jenkins. He said for one those businesses one of the influencing factors of them moving to Jenkins, was the cost of water. He discussed companies that use water jets in their company and the cost of water. He would like to discuss how to keep business in Pequot and attract new businesses. He suggested contacting Tommy Woog on his opinion on what we can do to keep and help business in Pequot Lakes flourish. Discussion ensued about supporting local businesses and the community. 10.1 Welcoming Communities Update Commissioner Rieck stated a few years ago, the EDC and the Council approved a