08-31-1992 Special Meeting MinutesSTATE OF MN The City Council of the City of
COUNTY OF WRIGHT Otsego held a Special Council
CITY OF OTSEGO Meeting this 31 day of August, 1992,
at 7:30 PM. Norman F. Freske,
Mayor, Doug Lin,denfelser, Floyd Roden, Larry Fournier and Ron
Black, Council Members, Jerome Perrault, Clerk, and Elaine
Beatty, Deputy Clerk/Zoning Administrator, were present.
Planners David Licht and Dan Wilson were also present.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Norman F.
Freske.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the
establishment of an Economic Development Authority (EDA) for
the City of Otsego. David Licht introduced Dan Wilson to the
Council and explained that Mr. Wilson has considerable
experience in the establishment of EDAs. Mr. Wilson said
the EDA is a tremendous tool and gives the City a lot of
power. The EDA can even buy property and develop it. The
EDA can be set so that the Council also is the EDA. The
chief concern of the EDA is Industrial. and Commercial
development with tax increment financing a possibility. The
Council needs to decide how much they want to be involved in
the Industrial and Commercial development of the City. Mr.
Wilson said you could have the Public Hearing on the
establishment of the EDA without making a final decision on
who will make up the membership of the EDA and how involved
the City will be financially.
David Licht said he had some concerns about the Council
Members also being on the EDA as a broader base of membership
would help the community understand the intentions of the
EDA. All other communities have EDAs and Otsego will need
one to compete. He also said that we have already specified
areas for commercial and industrial development in the
Comprehensive Plan.
Larry Fournier asked if there were any State Funds
available to help establish the EDA and Mr. Wilson replied
that not at the beginning.
Ron Black said he favored Option 3 which would have 3
Council Members and 2 other residents of the City on the EDA.
Dan Wilson said you could also have a task force,
possibly 5 members, to assist the EDA. He also said that the
Council will find out that it is very time consuming to•be on
the EDA.
David Licht suggested that the EDA could be set up with
3 Council Members and 2 members at large and the other 2
Council Members could serve as the members at large to begin
with.
Ron Black commented that if there was also a 5 member
advisory commission then he would be comfortable with the 5
Council Members being on the EDA,
David Licht said the advisory committee should have one
Council Member as an exofficio member.
Mr. Wilson said that at the Public Hearing you should
explain to the residents how you plan to set up the EDA.
SPECIAL OTSEGO CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 21, 1992.
PAGE 2
On motion the meeting adjourned.
6
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, NORMAN F. FRESKE, MAYOR
, DOUG LINDENFELSER, COUNCIL
, FLOYD RODEN, COUNCIL
, LARRY FOURNIER, COUNCIL
, RON BLACK, COUNCIL
ATTEST: Jerome Perrault, Clerk