Oh, man. We're not supposed to be Uh-huh, that's All right, I'll call the April 20th, 2026 quarterly meeting of the International Policy Economic Development Authority to order.
All members are present. Okay, approval of minutes from January 20th, 2026. >> Motion to approve. Have a motion to approve from Commissioner Bowler. Second. Seconded by Commissioner Dale.
Any discussion? All right, I'll ask the question. I. I. I. I. I. Motion carries. Unanimously. Then IF EDA special meeting minutes of February
2nd, 2026. I'll make a motion. Motion from Commissioner Holden. Second. Seconded from Commissioner Wagner. Any discussion? Since there is none, I'll ask the
question. I. I. I. I. I. Motion carries unanimously. They don't know what they're missing. They all get up and leave. >> [laughter] >> Constable financial reports. Well, there are no approved
accounts payable, so we'll move on to approve unaudited financial October through December 2025. Motion to approve. Motion by Second. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner
Bowler. Any questions? Discussion? I'll ask the question. I. I. I. I. I. Motion carries. What is it about it the There are commissioners The guy starts forgetting
people's names when they doing this. You got all that responsibility. Yeah. Oh, it's all You can see my shoulders shaking. Approve unaudited financials through January through March 2026.
I'll make a motion. Motion by Commissioner Holden. Second. Seconded by Commissioner Wagner. Any discussion? Mr. Chairman. >> Yeah. And a question for Emma Rod, we
have taken the action to pay off as Counselor Wagner would call it the road, is that correct? From the previous meeting. Yes. Yes. So, that's the last piece. Yeah, all that. Yeah. Thank you.
If there's no other discussion or questions, I'll ask the question. I. I. I. I. I. Motion carries. No reports from anybody? No business. New business.
Discuss July 4th funding, July 4th commission. Betty, do you have something for us here? I do. Thank you, Commissioner. We as 4th of July is working through organizing.
Um over the last 2 years, this would be the third year. We um the 4th of July commission has paid for the individual to provide bounce houses, so the kids' activities. I believe she's got three bounce houses
and then the like the yard games, there's the golf the tossing, there's axe throwing, the plastic axe throwing, blow up in you know, different few different games. That comes at a significant cost. Um in the past, we never you know, we
hadn't paid for those until just 2 years ago. And so with that, you know, we're running into with what we have and the price of the bands if we continue to do the bands at the magnitude that we are or have been,
um we used to get them for four or five thousand dollars, now they're like seven thousand dollars. So, there's more expenses involved. So, you know, I know the group is meeting Thursday and um I told them I would come here and kind of visit with you guys a
little bit to see if there was any appetite for additional funding for the 4th of July event. Um otherwise, we can just ask the the individual who brings the bounce houses in just to be a vendor. And that person would pay their
vendor fee of a hundred fifty dollars to us and then provide those services to the community. And then the kids and family or the families would have to pay whatever it is by the wristband to jump for the day or whatever have you. Um
so I guess that's kind of a question that the committee asked that we kind of bring to you guys and see um you know, as the 4th of July is a city event, um your guys's temperature on I know it's hot in here today, >> [laughter] >> but temperature on
>> Yeah, temperature's high, right? No. You know, we would you >> [clears throat] >> if there's availability for additional funding or we can definitely change the way we you know, what we provide as as a group as well. So, how much do you need, Betty? So, can I interrupt? Betty, were we
going to Were we going to add in the um what do you call it, the stand, the Well, the stage is another piece. >> Yes. Another expense of the stage without the band shell um that we also potentially have to come up with funding
for, so >> So, you rent a trailer, flatbed or They have a stage there. >> We have Lefties now. Okay. And it's like $2,400. Go ahead. >> [laughter] >> What is our current budget? I thought we increased this [snorts] budget a couple
years ago. >> [clears throat] >> Uh the current budget is >> I remember. >> 18,000? >> 16,000, I think. I thought it was higher than that. I thought it was 26. No. [clears throat] No. No. So, did I for some uh No, it's 18,000. It's 18,000.
>> we went to 26. It's $4,000 for the 4th of July. It's $2,000 for the Icebox Days fireworks. And then the other um $12,000 is for city fireworks. Okay.
How do we pay for the bands out of that then? Well, we get for April's the 4,000. Right. That was the 4,000 back when few years back, that's what we were paying is 4,000 plus a couple hotel rooms. That's not the case today.
Um so I mean I would take a motion to up what cuz it is our Yep. Yeah, it's our >> celebration and we've already I know people really after 2 years of what they've really enjoyed and expect a good
band show. You'll take a motion? And the bounce houses and I will take a motion to increase what we give out of the economic development funds. I'll make that motion. To And what do we need? >> To uh whatever I was thinking Betty thinks
we need to I was Do I have a number? Yeah, do you have a number? Do you? Betty, do you? >> I'm just asking for a number to increase. >> say I would budget it at 30. That way if there's any other increases, you don't have to spend it all. You got to pay for the stage. Maybe
you'll find something else to >> We must rent that someplace. All right. I have a motion for 30,000 dollars. >> to move it to 30. Okay. Do I have a second? Second. Any further discussion? But I think a lot of it I remember right
from the bass tournament, the bouncy houses aren't that bad to rent, but you got to have the insurance and then insurance is what kills you on the bouncy houses when we were renting them then, but that's why they are as high as they are, but anyway, no, I'm That's just a
a thought. I mean, it's good. Let's do it 30. I mean, it's From 26 to 30 or what What's the number? Well, we'll say 30. >> 18. 18 to 30. Maximum. Maximum. For all of those different >> Yeah, all those things. Got me cuz 12 of
that is the And is the 18 being paid currently by the EDA? Yes. Okay. Seemed to remember this. An additional 12 is what you're saying. Yep. Yep. And I'm sorry, I missed the Mike, were you the second? Yes.
>> I was the second. And who was the first? Counselor Wagner. Any further discussion? Well, well, I'm hoping maybe they find even more activities or All right, yeah. Well, we've been working on that trying Is Is can we put that effective this year? Yeah.
>> Yes. Yeah. Well, I think so. How would that affect budgets, Emma? What do we need with the EDA? Do we need There you go. We're fine. Yeah. I just got the excess payment check that I put in there today. Almost 90,000, so Good. We're fine.
Well, what else we need? >> [laughter] >> So, this would be for the 2026 beginning with the 2026 celebration. Yeah, we're done. And back to the to the stage, you know, hoping this would be the end of that. It's actually cheaper this year
than last year. And due to the the size of it, there's different platforms. So, there's less pieces. So, it's cheaper, believe it or not. You know, it all depends on what they need. Uncle Chunk played in the pavilion at
Shake Shake slot. I think we're good. And we've gotten a lot of really good feedback already on social media in regards to Uncle Chunk coming to town. And they're very excited to come back to town in the email correspondences we've had with them. So, we're hoping that
brings a good crowd downtown and that helps out with the beer sales and all the other sales. And we get back vendor proceeds and beer sales, something like that from the rotary. So,
back into the our account as well. Might even keep me up past my curfew. Uncle Chunk. All right, I'll ask the question. I. I. I. I. Motion carries. >> [clears throat]
>> Yes. Let's uh If we can afford it, we might as well have a good fourth good celebration. Brings a lot of people to town. It's a big big day. And please come and eat some watermelon between 11:00 to 1:00. I haven't made I haven't made that
official yet. Or or come You said that last year. Yeah. All right on. Yeah. Perfect. Now we're cooking. All right. B. Discuss support for economic development authority and its future. Do you want to carry this from the
meeting? Sure. Um discuss support for the Koochiching Economic Development Authority, KEDA, and its future. So, as I think we because Councilor Kaylor and I sit on the KEDA board as we've
updated Paul Nevanen has retired effective July 1st of this year. So, for all intents and purposes, basically he has been the director since around 2000, which is when KEDA
came into to formation courtesy of Jack Murray, who was mayor at the time, Irv Anderson, who was speaker of the house. And KEDA was initially allocated what are state dollars out of the IRRRB Taconite account
to go to KEDA to a joint powers agreement to foster economic development in the county. Through that process, KEDA has upped their receipts to support themselves with cold weather testing and such. So, first thing I want to point out is KEDA
does not Councilor Kaylor and I are aware of have any ask at all of the city currently, and I don't think that they have. But we're having a personnel meeting on Wednesday, quite frankly, to discuss
what the future looks like for that organization. Whether we go down the path of of replacing the director or a different position, anything of that nature, really. So, one of the questions
to city and county, really, is I think the city's been fortunate that KEDA What Have they made a capital call for funds recently? Couple years a couple years ago. Couple part of the cold box.
And they borrowed money. And then we forgave one payment of $25,000 of that repayment. Over the last 2 years. In loans. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, what Yeah, they they
That they Okay. We forgave the one and then they had to get another one to bridge that summer. That was 100,000. Oh, that was 100,000. Yeah. That's that. That that they used to bridge couple winters ago. As you can tell by
You know, we talked to people in Yugoslavia get you know that. So, that take for the gap funding. That's how they paid it back. Yeah, then we forgave the 25,000 instead of giving them the 25
for the chargers that jail are putting. So, you know, with that, I think that we discussed at the previous KEDA meeting that if the KEDA board goes out to replace a director
or a like similar or like position to that, are they going to come to work for that job and give it their best effort if they don't know the future of the organization is there. So, that's really what spawned
the discussion and why it was added to this agenda. And I know that the the county board was discussing and looking into the different things. I don't want to retail old soil tonight.
At one time the city had its own EDA director. We don't currently. We haven't talked about it. And for what I see sitting on the board, the
deals that are available and coming in are being handled and we're giving updates on them. So, I think that there is is value in it. And I would just finish with We don't know what we're doing yet. But
if we sit down and say, you know, the city EDA or or the city council isn't behind this or we're not ever going to be there, I think that that changes the discussion from our side of the table tremendously.
Councilor Kaylor. Yes, I would agree that at the Are we willing at least us here right now? It can all change down the road, you know, who's who's up. But are we going to be here willing if they do ask for some money to support
them when needed. As of right now, they It's worked out like they planned when they came here. They think it's 2014. It's the last time they asked for money. Not only do you know how much that was that they used to get,
but also there is the cold boxes like KEDA's carry park. To be I mean, it's getting I mean, it's usable. I don't think anything's going to happen any thing too soon, but that is the thing would we be willing to
ask to or need to down the road upon the some of our our to keep KEDA going, use some of our economic development funds in the future to use it or city funds in general.
Go ahead, Beth. How much you you talked about the IRRRB funding? What's what What's the value of that funding? 90,000 at the top end. It depends on A year? Mhm. Yeah, so the county in in this 60 to
90,000. It's in law. So, that's one of the idiosyncrasies that's been talked about because Kooch has the KDA, we have the EDA. Then we have KEDA, then there's the KCDA.
And so the the idiosyncrasy with KEDA is that it's guaranteed to get that money by state law. And then Kooch County, I believe, in totality gets about a quarter million out of the Taconite assistance
>> [snorts] >> Taconite trust fund. And so, 60 to 90,000 of it comes to KEDA. And I mean, it's it's well used. You know, it supplements that budget and
the testing dollars flow into it and it's Well, absolutely, that's significant. You know, we stand if we stand to lose that, you know, if if it goes away. Right. Right. And the the the big thing with it is that
we could never get that law passed again today because we don't have enough votes in the legislature as the metro has grown and rural has shrunk. So, like the discussion could be had, well,
let's change the law. And there's a lot of people on the Iron Range who don't think that we should get anything. So, that's just some of the talk that's, you know, happened. And I believe that truth Yeah, that and
cuz I needed a vote. And It's either Irv or Irv Anderson said, "Well, I'll vote for it, but we got to get some." And that's how it came about. But I do
I don't want to tell a penny old stories either, but I think we do need to have some type organization for contact, you know. Whether it's KEDA, it's already here, it's already established.
Without any formal talks, I talked to some county people and I think they're and part of what they said at the meeting was they were going to cuz they got all they got Yeah, they got the KDA and some others and streamline and maybe
get everything together. So. And that's being talked about too that um Koochiching is rather inactive. Um Koochiching? Yeah. Well, it's a little gap loan
like a micro loan like if you're going to borrow 100 at the bank and you need a 20% $20,000 down payment, the board can meet and they can give you five on like a revolving Oh. startup kind of like And you know, when I worked at the
bank across town uh you know, they were really active in looking for deals and and there just wasn't that many of them at the time. So, I think to your point with the county that they're looking at maybe to a degree some of it can be
streamlined together to a degree. Um So, that's Wait. Another part of this looking at it from the airport commission side is that part of KIRA's wages come come from HEDA and part from airport commission. So,
um there's going to be something there that was going to have to be figured out too where that's going to go whether she's strictly hired by the airport commission or if she's going to be doing both jobs or does she lose that job? That part of it then
and those part-time with the airport airport commission or you know, there's a lot of ifs there too on that part of it. Cuz she has contract with Koochiching as our as a executive [clears throat] secretary. Yeah. So.
So, I guess yeah, but the uh Uh well, I just uh you know, um so, with all these other economic like this one and then you said the two from the county and KEDA uh you know, um
I have not heard a lot of positive public perception of KEDA. I'm just going to tell you. Um I don't know how much you guys have heard, but there is not a lot of positive perspective. I I I think the money like Betty mentioned from the IRRB is a is
something that you can't just throw away. Give away, no. But maybe this is an opportunity to refashion the group into a working group that might achieve some economic impact that
could get some positive public reflection. Just a thought. And I don't know if that means you need a director or maybe don't need a director. I don't know. I think you do you need somebody a director. You need somebody to cuz part of it is to have a
a point of contact. Then that and that's also where people get information on small business and I don't know what the fish name of Jenny is, but I Yeah.
Um Yes, but yeah, you don't hear a lot of good things. I'll admit that, but and I'm not always the happiest either, but but also a lot of people don't know. That and I would I would echo that and I think without saying too much that
that's what you mentioned um is Yeah, that's part of the discussion is that uh Paul's done. Um and going forward you know, if if KEDA does attempt to
move on its path whether it's a director or anything else um that is that opportunity. And you know, there is stuff going on all the time. We're getting
some I mean, the multimodal is one thing, but the new vet office and I mean, there's calls coming in, but we're still to a degree you know, there was always the rumor that Jack Murray can Walmart and that the previous
mayor was in the camp of the paper mill only and whether those things were true or not, but we've got to move forward at I >> And and some examples that I've done are the renovations downtown were helped through KEDA through DEED.
There's things like that. And one thing we got to remember a big part of KEDA right now is actually cold weather testing, which brings in a lot of revenue for the motels [clears throat] and things like that.
And that's actually what's funds it right now for the most part. I would think the only big thing big ask would be uh some major capital outlay stuff there. Wouldn't you agree?
If that's something ever did come about. And one thing if it's with the cold weather testing and Jaguar is pretty they help, you know. They don't just ride the shirt tails. They contribute when they want things. I mean, it's a good working
operation. Well, I think we as a IFEDA, I think we should be open to letting the KEDA board know that we're interested in doing whatever needs to be done to try to keep something going
uh whether we need to combine everything and make it all into one or or whatever, you know, I mean, I think the KEDA board is probably the one that's going to end up probably making that decision on which way to go. And so, if we have uh other avenues and and commit to being
part of it in whatever they do with whatever they come up with, they can come back and we can talk about it then and see what's what we can streamline what they can do. I like the idea that we keep ours here by itself. I've never heard a bad word said about IFEDA ever.
Not one time. Or the other one and I've heard this and that over the years like Tim was saying. And I you know, I've never heard anything and I just assume keep it this way. Keep our own. Well, and I don't
want That's me. >> I I don't think we're talking about not having our own. Well, combining it even. I don't know if I'm interested in combining. >> That isn't an option, I don't No. I'm not interested Cuz uh for one uh KEDA is set up
by statute. And that is that the way it is with the people there Mhm. is uh Yeah. set up and set >> Funding is there too then if KEDA doesn't stay KEDA that money will lose coming into the 90,000
or whatever it is. But but I think what I think our discussion here is like part of it with all of us we're willing to give some money if need be. >> Yeah, I can handle that. I mean, but we're still going to be separate. For one, we got to be separate because the
reason we have some income is we formed the EDA and got our agreement [clears throat] with the park. Yeah, that's part of it too. And then when EDA when the park loan is paid up then their EDA is going to be different
again, too. That's right. Going to be huge. It's going to be in better shape even. Going to be huge. So, in one of the things that that spawned the whole conversation and I don't I don't think that the situation here would ever be what it was in Itasca
is there's an acronym for Itasca Business Development something. Uh they had four, five, six people on the payroll that were directors or of such. And you know, they
were all relatively new to their jobs. And I believe it was Itasca County that was going to have a big levy really big levy and so, they pulled the funding to that
EDA arm and everybody left. And and that's what happened, but I think that some of the discussion is if we're going to go down the path of finding a director for KEDA um
we would like to at least be able to discuss that their future should their performance be adequate be relatively um secure. Would that be >> Yeah. Yeah. What is it? Go ahead.
Thank you for that the last part of that. >> [laughter] >> And and then will there be a way to measure that performance? I agree with you 100%. I've always wondered that. We never see a jobs report.
What's coming in? What how many are on left or is there are they um uh seasonal? What is the gain? What is the loss? And that's one of the things that if we go down that path That what we'll do and
I and we used to mean, when I was out there first time every there was an article and update on how much cold weather testing brought in. You know, and things like that. And I forget what he said. Um this is just
Jaguar too. How much they had. But it was hundreds of thousands of dollars with food and whatever and I'm staying at the motels that I I get that but there's more than just
cold weather testing. I understand that. >> even the the businesses that exist currently in the city and the county should be getting help. Maybe they're looking for people, whatever. KEDA should be helping try to promote that too.
Well, I think they do. I mean if looking for work I mean I'm I And I don't know if anybody's asked them for help. And they're there and they have the small business development uh
resources through there and stuff like that. So. I've been generally I mean the current director is leaving. So I mean that's that's a given but I would say that you know, I'm cautious
with what I say because the the entrepreneurial side of me if I if I was going to invest in Kooch and I go walk in the KEDA office you know, it's always well hey, I've got the world's next greatest idea but hey, don't tell anybody yet.
Um so I would say that um I haven't signed an NDA or anything. But that there's there's stuff happening. Um and there's going to be opportunities that that as we've talked about I think for Kooch and and for us we are Kooch. We're in
the county. Um on data centers and uh things of that nature and so should we ever want to pursue them which um hard to turn down uh projects that add to our tax base.
I and I said one thing to look at if we don't have KEDA with a contact person if that means we have to have get somebody for someone to be the contact. I mean it can be we could add that
to Betty's duties or somebody's else's to be in economic development but that's whether it's KEDA or it's a one shop where they can contact and find things I think is the what is the process is a good part of it and
whether they bring in we're probably not going to bring in Boeing. I'm just going to assume or something like that but these little are things to help businesses get loans and stuff like that and have a contact. I think I guess what I'm saying I think it serves a
purpose. I would not go And and if we're willing I'm not saying it doesn't cost us any if they ask us I mean it's going to come through our EDA any money we and it isn't going to be like hundreds of thousands of dollars either.
I mean there's going to be limits. Right. And those will be things that come up even at the time we'll have to decide do we need to put a new compressor all that KEDA or do we need a new
compressor at Carey Park. I mean those will be the things but I think in theory and try we'll I think we're supportive some funds. I mean that's what and that's what they're going to ask us. That's basically what our
big part of our discussion is Wednesday. Would you agree? Mayor. Yeah, I mean the and not to to like I said not to till old soil but we're getting we're getting KEDA essentially for free
as it is. If we if we pay the the $80,000 wage whatever it is to hire a director here within our own EDA that's about $125,000. And we can hire a director and work
through the joint powers agreement and it might not cost us a nickel till it does and it might be 50 grand and we might get some of it back. So that would be my spell of why it's efficient now to counselor Wagner's Well, and I yeah, go ahead. credit that um
in in the new hunt so to speak that's an opportunity I think given the timeline there's some city and county priorities that could kind of be drilled in if such exist.
Yeah, I I major opportunity for you to Yeah. to change things that need to be changed. >> With the thought that we will like I said we got to have our And who knows if you're going to find anybody. There's that too.
That's the another reason. Yeah, [laughter] to have some of these discussions, right? Yeah. And uh But we've already worked a perfect example is multiple no matter where it ends up
is us working with KEDA through here to get that going. Let me tell you 10 years ago that wasn't happening. You know, for whatever that's back to tilling up old soil but yeah. But I mean
I guess I'm trying to say if we have the two of us but we'll still be able to get work together and get things done. That's what it takes. So we can pass that on to them then, gentlemen, that I think so. Yeah. Yeah.
All right. Anything else? Yes, I need you to back up. We need to we need to go back in time in the meeting. I think there's some confusion. We're we're we're taping it. Are we going back 10 years? Or or no [laughter] No, we're going back about 10 minutes, maybe 15.
Um so the 4th of July funding I think there's some confusion. So the previous 4th of July funding that was budgeted was budgeted by the city's EDA fund which is the 809 fund which is where the the 12,000 that Betty's
um or the 18,000s rather that Betty's talking about is coming out of that fund is not as fortunate as the 208 fund which is the fund that's overseen by this group. So that would be my clarification point is if we would be getting
an additional $12,000 from the 208 fund or the 809? Well, and the 809 isn't the 809 really has no sense of source of revenue other than the timber sale money. As I said yeah, it's annual timber sales. Yeah, and it's
I mean yeah, it's I got it today. I entered it. I mean it's at best 20 some thousand and it based on what we're expending it's going to be more than what we're receiving on an annual basis. So I mean we can take money out of there but we'll be drawing
essentially on reserves in that fund. Um so I just wanted uh it clued in I was sitting here like oh but like that's I think it was my assumption everybody's it would be coming out of this fund
here. The 208? Yeah, sure. >> [laughter] >> The 208 which this group oversees. >> Yeah. Yes. Okay. Um then we just need to be mindful when we're paying out bills which fund we're coding
them to. We can code up to the 18,000 out of the 809 but anything beyond that would need to be coded to the 208. Right. So I Sorry, I cut you. >> No, go ahead. Should we just make a transfer? Can't you do that? Transfer
>> thinking that. The only thing is I mean it's a cap amount but if you're comfortable transferring 12,000 for the purposes of um additional 4th of July expenses I have no problem um doing up a resolution and
getting that approved by you guys. Make it easier, wouldn't it? Yeah. Yeah, I think >> Yeah. Cleaner. All right, I'll take a mo- take a motion. >> I'll move from Walt the second. Second. Second from Tim.
Any further discussion? I have a question. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. >> [clears throat] >> So that's a transfer from 208 to Yeah, are we going to transfer to 809? Yeah, right. And I'll do up a resolution
to that effect. 4th of July. Okay, perfect. Thank you. And when it's done so you can get it for the 4th of July we can just have a special meeting at one of our next council meetings to have or or is the resolution done and I
just got to come in and sign it? If you're comfortable we'll just use comparable language to the 10 4. the the last transfer we did. Just it won't be a closure of a fund. Um it'll be same type of language so um
I think that clears that that item up. So thank you. All right. Oh, that was it. Huh. >> [clears throat] >> Thought you were going to make me retract what I was saying. Good luck. >> [laughter] >> All right, if there's nothing else eating and adjourned.