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�- Mr. Pederson stated this could be an appendix. Mr. Habein stated that the new grocery <br /> store is employing a lot of people with no infrastructure investment from the City. Hunt <br /> Technologies also created a lot of jobs with no burden to the City. Mr. Pederson stated <br /> that there should be a goal. Why the Industrial Park? If we are going to expand,we need <br /> to ask why and the why needs to have a goal behind it. What kind of pay scale? There <br /> are so many intangibles. <br /> Ms. Brown pointed out that there may be inaccuracies in the number of employees in the <br /> Business Park. The 2008 Business Inventory listed her business as only having 2 <br /> employees. (Staff verified the numbers used in the report were correct for the other <br /> businesses.) <br /> Mr. Marohn stated that there could be a comparison done of the three areas and the <br /> number of jobs per area. <br /> Mr. Williams asked if there was a goal in the Comprehensive Plan to grow at any cost. <br /> Or is the goal of the community sustainability—maintaining open space, maintaining tax <br /> base and businesses as they are? Mr. Adams stated that in the various sections the <br /> Comprehensive Plan talked about maintaining a rural atmosphere and encouraging <br /> business, but it did not say we want industrial businesses throughout the City. Mr. <br /> Pederson stated that we need to define what we want and put that intent into a goal. You <br /> cannot measure results without a goal. We want to be open for growth if it makes sense. <br /> Mr. Adams stated our Business Park is under utilized. Mr. Williams stated the City <br /> should stay out of the real estate business. Private individuals should do that. The <br /> Business Inventory does not state where the employees live; it would be nice to know if <br /> they have children in our school system and live in our community. Mr. Adams agreed <br /> that expansion should be done by private parties. <br /> Ruth Ann Hanson wondered why this degree of detail was put into this piece of the Plan. <br /> She also stated that there could have been a difference in the success of the Industrial <br /> Park given the decreased lot regulation and if some of the lots hadn't been given away. <br /> She also asked if just the dollar figure was the measure of success. She suggested <br /> BLADC could help with information. Mr. Adams stated that this is why we are having <br /> the discussion. If someone has a different view of the numbers, we encourage them to <br /> come back to this body and discuss it. <br /> Mr. Williams stated that we got into this level of discussion because of a statement made <br /> that the City made money on the Park. Mr. Marohn stated we should not proceed with a <br /> false pretence which to a certain degree is believed by a large group of people. As we <br /> plan for the future, is it to grow tax base? Is it to lower taxes? Is it to create jobs? Is it to <br /> bring people to the community? We need to state what we are trying to accomplish and <br /> then evaluate a future project or approach. <br /> Minutes 2 <br /> Pequot Lakes Planning Commission <br /> March 18, 2010 <br />