WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=QelV8NK1FAw

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: QelV8NK1FAw):
- 00:02:31: Meeting Convenes, Roll Call, New Member Introductions
- 00:07:20: Approving Minutes and MBA Executive Director Update
- 00:09:42: Commissioner Reports: Infrastructure, MBA, and Strategic Planning
- 00:13:30: Greater Fargo EDC Business Retention and Expansion Update
- 00:19:14: Government Affairs: 2026 Legislative Priorities Presentation
- 00:36:16: Emery Affordable Housing Tiff Project Certification Review
- 00:42:29: Economic Development Report: Downtown Updates, Events, Construction
- 00:55:23: Meeting Adjournment


Part: 1

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Shut up. Derek's online. Can you hear me, Amy? >> Yes, we can. >> Thank you. >> Hey, it's 11:45. If I can call the What is What month is this? May. Is it May or

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is it February or >> the May meeting of the Morhead Economic Development Authority to order? And if we can begin with a roll call. Amy >> Amedi >> here. >> Anderson

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Balco here. Le Point >> here. >> Larson >> here. >> Moore >> here. >> Ness >> Schaeld >> here. >> Soik and White

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>> here. Madam Chair, I would just like to add that because we do have a member who is participating with us online, we will be taking all of our votes by roll call today. >> Thank you, Amy. >> Thank you.

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>> Thank you for the roll call, Addison. >> Um and then we'll let the record show that we do have a quorum here today. Um, so if we have a couple new members. So I think it would be good if we could just maybe start with Evan maybe and just

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introduce ourselves and then um so that those that are new may or may not know who we are. So if we could do that just a couple seconds. Sorry to put you on the spot right away. >> No, no worries. Uh hello to everyone who's new. I'm Evan Balco. >> Um hello. Thanks for having me. I'm Si

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Hamidi here for Ward One. >> Hi, I'm Sheri Larson and I am your community cheerleader for Morehead. >> Hi, I'm Deb White. I'm one of the council liaison. >> Kim Schaefelt and I'm here uh representing the Morhead Business Association.

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Rob, I'm not new. Okay. Amy Anderson and I'm representing W three. >> Emily Moore, Morehead City Council, >> Matt Lys, uh, downtown Morehead.

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>> And Amy Thorp, I um, with City of Morehead Economic Development. >> Addison Carl, I help out Amy in economic development. >> Thank you very much, everyone. and I appreciate the little bit of time that that took. Um, and just one little

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housekeeping thing too that I do want to mention is if we all can just make sure that we're looking at our emails that come from the city so that in the event that we do have to have an email vote that we can get to that or if Amy needs

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to know if we have to have a, you know, a special meeting, those types of things, just so that we're prompt on returning emails. So, thank you. Um agenda amendments. Are there any amendments to the agenda? >> There are no amen uh a amendments from

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us today. Okay. Hearing none, the agenda will stand as presented. And if I could have a vote to or a motion to approve the agenda, please. >> White moves to approve. I'll go a second.

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>> All in favor? Sorry, forgot about the roll call. Thank you. Thanks, Deb. >> So used to it. >> Amedi, >> hi >> Anderson. >> Hi, >> Balco. >> Hi, >> Le Point.

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>> I >> Larson, >> I >> Moore, >> yes. Ness >> Schael >> I >> Soelik >> I >> and White >> yes >> okay thank you everyone um approval of

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the minutes if we've all gotten an opportunity to read the minutes from our March 2nd meeting. If so, I would entertain a motion and we'll do this by roll call obviously. >> Move to approve. More

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>> white seconds. >> Amedi >> I >> Anderson. >> I >> Le Point. >> I >> Larson. >> I >> Moore. Yes.

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>> Ness Schaefeld >> I >> Soelick >> I and White >> Yes. >> Thank you. With that the minutes are approved. Um citizens to be heard.

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Good morning everybody. Thanks for having me. Uh I'm Staca Sitesma's executive director of the Greater MBA and we had a great pickle ball tournament. Um a couple of weeks ago, uh unfortunately I wasn't able to attend

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but the amazing board took over and thank you Kim. Um but yeah, it was a great time of connecting and networking. Um, one thing I'm really working on too is to have resources for all of our area

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businesses, but especially Morehead, um, for things like incentives, uh, programming, education stuff. So, that's one thing that's new that I've been working on, um, to help our businesses because I've been hearing a lot of there's so much information out there

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that it's hard to even find it. Like, we have too many options for communication. Um, so since I'm going around to visiting with all of our businesses, uh, being that extension of the things that we offer. So those are the new things that we're doing here at the MBA.

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Anybody have any questions or comments? Thank you. >> Thank you, Staca. Thanks for doing great things in Morehead. Appreciate that. Uh, commissioners reports. I believe we have a couple commissioner reports

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potentially. >> Um I would say that we're always looking for reports from those liaison that are coming um from various areas um such as the MBA. So thank you uh Staca. But also like um if if the you know maybe next

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month the MPS board would have any um updates for our board. maybe the um the liaison for the Greater Fargo Morehead EDC um board, we might hear from them. So, if you if you do have any economic

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development related reports that we'd like to give to the board, we would uh definitely appreciate it if you would come forward. Um city council members also um you know the to make sure that the information is flowing both ways. We would appreciate that. So, thank you.

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Yep. That would be fabulous. Jason, >> red button. >> All right, perfect. Thank you. Uh, a lot of at this time of the year, uh, things up for more in public service are a lot of infrastructured driven projects. Uh, one of the big things

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that's kind of, uh, we're looking out towards the future is this kind of significant eight street uh, development plan. And I know that that's probably um, a big community event. Uh, we try more public service trying to keep expenses down by kind of teaming up with

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the uh, city in regards to when as city, county, and state. I guess when any major projects need to be done, we'll move in and start working uh to uh complete those together to keep everybody's cost down. U still working

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through the uh updated meter uh project, which uh will be a big um change for uh homeowners, giving them lots of access to their uh utility bills and stuff um online. Um making things easier for them to watch and keep an eye on. uh also

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mitigate any like water emergencies that might happen in individual houses. Um yeah, about that's about it for now. >> Thank you very much. Anyone else? If not, I do have just a little um a little snippet for the

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greater MBA. Um, so Staca is being very humble when she comes up and talks, but the greater MBA has been really focusing on all of the changes obviously that we know that are happening in Morehead and Staca's been out pounding the pavement on um meeting with businesses and

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finding out what their needs are. And really one of the the common threads in all of these meetings has been that they want more education on what's going on in Morehead and what's how it's going to affect the businesses etc. Um, so we are

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working on a three and five-year strategic plan for the MBA and we have um we're actually we're partnering too with Dale Carnegie to help us with a couple things on how to present these things in a really professional manner and um so I think it's going to be

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really exciting for the businesses that they have, you know, a voice in something that has, you know, a small piece of of what's going on in Morehead. um and just making them feel very much a part of a lot of the changes that are happening. So, thank you Staca for all

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your work. >> Yes, D. >> I'm wondering so I um I know we do have somebody from Greater Fargo EDC in the audience. Could we put them on the spot and just have a have them come up and give a quick update of some things that you know they've been working on and things that are in the pike.

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That's okay. Be sure to stay state your name and your affiliation too. Thanks. >> No problem. Uh let's see. Get this ad suggested here. Uh I'm a speech kid by background, so impromptu speeches are uh nothing I'm too uncomfortable with, but

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appreciate the opportunity, Deb. Um uh my name is Joey Nes. I'm the vice president of business development with the Greater Farmore Economic Development Corporation. And you know, I I just offer in future iterations, I'd be happy to come prepared with, you know, more specifics as well on some of the things

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that we're doing from a business attraction standpoint. Uh my colleague Ryan Oheim, um who is our chief business development officer is working a lot on kind of the business attraction realm of things. Um you know, certified site program obviously with Mara Industrial

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Park is great priority. Um some of those things in motion I know that Matt is working on with the DG Fuels project. So for um what it's worth and in and kind of sharing a little bit about uh my role and capacity with the organization is I'm really focused on business retention

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and expansion within the community. Obviously we work on both sides of the river on uh Cass County and North Dakota and Clay County and Minnesota. And so uh we work on um you know these visits uh that we call business retention expansion or BR. And kind of the core

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focus of that is looking at kind of the business vitality of the organization. You know, what uh is things looking like from a standpoint on their plans for expansion and growth. Um looking at workforce as a major theme across all of

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that, getting assessments on what positions are more challenging to recruit for for than others. um which enables us to be able to serve those organizations and deploy some of our tools um such as Litecast data modeling seek out where we can really target you

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know those types of positions of need where um we're really focused on attraction of new talent into the market. One of the things I think that goes without saying is that the growth that we're seeing really on both sides of the river kind of necessitates that

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uh we have more bodies here uh to be able to fill those positions of need. Um and so, you know, I would certainly welcome in a a future meeting that I can go through some of the specific data that we're observing just from some of the Morehead visits, but um you know, we have some really exciting opportunities

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ahead of us. Um, I know Matt and I will be um having one of our BRE visits uh next week. And in many ways, you know, I think it's always great for us to, you know, have a really strong relationship with you all. Uh cuz, you know, we're always going out doing the work, trying

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to make those connections with businesses. And I should specify too that one of the things that's unique about us as an economic development organization is we serve um our our primary stakeholders for businesses as primary sector companies. And so a

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primary sector company um as has as differentiated from a main street company would be any company that uh adds value to a good or service and they sell that outside of the trade area whether it's outside of the state or outside of the market. And kind of the premise of primary sector is that all of

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that wealth that they're bringing into the community is new wealth. And so that's the whole uh kind of impetus for our organization is really focused on you know those types of industries that might be manufacturing they might be software development uh value added

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agriculture and so you know some of the things I've got uh kind of a a copy of um you know our annual reporting and data. So what these conversations do just on a fundamental level for BR&E is it helps us establish these relationships so we can gather this

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intelligence making sure that we're helping these companies on an individual basis. You know we'll have the connection points with you know Minnesota um deed um you know for their business developers. We have a um something that you know station I you

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know can uh even visit about afterwards is um our smartbook uh resources incentive guide has incentives and we you know make updates on this about every two years after legislative sessions run their cycle. So any programs that are newly implemented or

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those that might be uh sunset. Um but you know some of what we're seeing in the data is that our market by and large as we aggregate all of this data from these conversations. Um still very optimistic in terms of business expansion. 60% of the businesses that we talk to still have plans for expansion

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over the next one to two years. Um but we're also really getting great data on what the barriers are and you know by and large it's you know workforce availability and talent. So working with our educational institutions and training partners is is really important. Um as well as figuring out

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how are we being really intentional about creating community vibrancy and and marketing the communities so that people want to um move here and and work here. Um, so that's really probably just a 30,000 foot view on kind of some of our efforts as an organization and and

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really kind of the focus that I have here. So I always appreciate these opportunities to come and listen and really have a strong pulse on, you know, what you're seeing in the community and then how we can be great partners in bringing that information as well to all of you. So uh, I'd open up to any

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questions that any of you have, but uh, again, thank you Deb for the opportunity. questions from commissioners. >> Well, thank you, Joey. And since you volunteered to give an update in the future, that would be absolutely fabulous. Thank you. >> Fantastic.

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>> We'll do appreciate it. >> Okay. >> Uh we'll now move into our presentation um sections of the agenda and we'll hear from Lisa Bod with government affairs who will present the 2026 legislative priorities. And these priorities outline

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key policy areas and initiatives that impact the economic development and our community's growth. So Lisa, take it away, please. Thank you. And um Amy Thorp reminded me earlier today that we do have new members and so I'm going to give just a little bit more background

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than maybe I would otherwise. And then if you have any questions, please let me know. I will try not to speak in acronyms. Um, legislative advocacy is important to every community in Minnesota and I would say it's

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especially relevant here in Morehead because we are part of greater Minnesota and there's a lot of of legislative activity concentrated in the Minneapolis St. Paul region and the surrounding area just because of their um extra-l large

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population center and also because we're a border community to North Dakota, it gives us um we have a very different vantage point than other communities because regardless of um whether we think they're good or bad, there's just

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differences at the border that um we need to account for and businesses have choices and we need to make sure we're paying attention to those and trying to mitigate any threats and taking advantage of any opportunities that we

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have as a Minnesota community. So, every year um usually in the late fall or early in the year um the city council sets legislative priorities and they have done that this year. The resolution

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that outlines those priorities is included in your materials and it includes capital investment projects and policy matters that um would benefit the city of Morehead. We also belong to a couple of really important statewide

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organizations. The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, which is represents communities, cities specifically outside of the 7count metro area. And we're um very involved in that and have been

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since the inception of that organization in the late 80s or early 90s. and uh Mayor Carlson is past president of that organization and I serve as the treasury with a lot of assistance of our finance department. We um you know try to help

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with that organization. We are one of the largest cities in that group and then we're also a member of the League of Minnesota Cities and that organization represents all cities throughout the state of Minnesota. And so those organizations

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um advocate and lobby on behalf of all of their members, which allows us to be a little more specific in the goals that we pursue and um rely on those partnerships for for those big things

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and then uh really focus in on a couple of priorities. I um included briefing sheets for you. These are um um pieces of information that we share with legislators when we're meeting with them on these issues. Um they include um a

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bonding request and and that's when the state of Minnesota sells bonds. Um, and there's a capital investment committee that oversees that process. And there is sometimes between 900 and over a billion

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dollars, 900 million to a billion dollars or more that is invested in the state of Minnesota for the state's capital needs as well as local projects. And the local project that Morehead is listed as its number one priority this

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year is um flood mitigation. Um in order to finish the capital investment work on flood mitigation that was started after the 2009 flood um outside of the diversion but compatible with the

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diversion. We need $18.5 million to um retrofit and and improve um seven lift stations along the Red River to FEMA and US Army Corps of Engineer um standards

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and that will help us certify that area for um um flood insurance purposes. So when once they're certified as as compatible flood structures, then um the diversion and and these other

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improvements combined will mean that um people in the um flood plane um can qualify for lower flood insurance rates and it's optional, not required by um federally backed mortgages. So, um 18

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and a half is is what we're seeking this year. And the diversion, um just in the past few months has, um had an opportunity to free up some federal money that um they didn't think would become available to them for quite some

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time. and they're offering um an additional match to the the funds that the state of Minnesota would um would apply to our project so that it reduces the cost to the state of Minnesota by

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half. And so if um if we can get we're trying to make a big impact with that information and that would mean that if we could get you know nine $9 million for that project we could complete those

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lift stations. So we're really hopeful and we're really pursuing that. So any legislators you know tell them to vote for a bonding bill. So, and we have another project in the wings on um capital investment, which given the size

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of the ask that we have this year, it's probably unlikely that we will achieve both. But we're also looking for funding to assist us with the major um upgrades and improvements necessary at the wastewater treatment plant. And that

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every every dollar we get with that is a dollar we don't have to pay through rates. So, it's we're trying to seek as much state and federal funding for both the flood mitigation and for the wastewater projects. We are not alone in

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this. There are a lot of water, wastewater, and flood control needs throughout the state of Minnesota. So, we're trying to make our best case not only for ourselves, but for others around the state. So, that's the capital investment side.

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Should I pause here or should I keep going? see if anybody's got questions for that. Any questions or comments from commissioners? >> I have I have a question. When you're applying for both bonds, is there a risk

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in applying for both at the same time that makes you less likely to get one or the other? >> So, it's not a typical grant process, Amy. Um, it is um we we submit projects and then we rank the project. So the

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council is required to pass a resolution ranking the projects. So we concentrate on our number one priority and we um you know then you know we we do have multiple priorities and there have been years where we have gotten some funding

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for multiple projects. So we you know we kind of keep an eye on what those future needs might be as well. So we have ranked and prioritized them. So, I wouldn't say there is a risk because it's it's not quite the same as applying for a grant where you're comparing

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yourself specifically against other applicants. I will note too um that we you'll note that on the flood mitigation briefing sheet, we are not the only projects listed there. There are projects that are led by the FM

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diversion and Klay County. In order to finish up flood mitigation in the our our region, the total amount necessary is just over $64 million. And with the um with the funding from

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the diversion authority, we if we got 32 million from the state of Minnesota, we'd be able to complete our projects. and our projects are shovel ready and we um you know we're we're pestering people in St. Paul all the time about this project. So that's a little bit on the

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capital investment side. On the policy side, the primary goal is to achieve some policy changes to the border cities enterprise zone. And this is another coalition. It's a smaller coalition. The cities of East Grand Forks, Morehead,

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Dworth, Breen Ridge, and Ortonville are designated in state statutes as border cities. While there are borders um you know around all around Minnesota, n state and um international borders, um

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the border with North Dakota um creates a lot of policy differences between our communities. And we have some resources from the state that provide um economic development incentives. The workers compensation rebate program that um Amy

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and Addison administer is one pro program that is funded through this appropriation. And then there are other opportunities for new and expanding businesses in Morehead. And there are some geographic restrictions and some

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business type restrictions that make it difficult to assist all of the businesses that we want to. I would say when this legislation was initiated in the 1980s, um restaurants, entertainment facilities, and things

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were um were not as important um to economic development as they are now. And there are businesses that we the state of Minnesota will turn down because there are some really um

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restriction restrictive policies on those types of businesses and those are the businesses as we survey first-time home buyers and all our home buyers every year. Those are the types of businesses that our community is seeking. And so we've had a hearing on

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this in the in the state senate and it went really well and the bill is included in the omnibus tax bill from the senate and we are seeking support from the house side of things and hopefully if there is a tax bill this

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year that one will pass. I'd say we're in pretty good con pretty good shape on that particular project. So, um, any questions on enterprise zone? That that and the flood mitigation are

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the two biggest um pushes this year. But I will say there's other information too that um might be helpful for you to be aware of. Um the resolution lists um social well actually there's a a briefing sheet on social districts in

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your packet and that is something relatively new in the state of Minnesota. It is um a it's permission from the state. comes through Department of Commerce. Um related to um selling

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liquor at festivals and within a set boundary where the the um liquor within a designated cup or container and um could be move could be movable. You can

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leave the site of the business that sold you the liquor within a defined district for activities. I think the street fair has done this. Um different businesses in the community. Um Dworth and Detroit

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Lakes are also very interested in this. So we did put a bill in this year. It's it did not not move um into hearings and out of commerce, but none of the other cities that have requested these social districts have. Also, I think that's

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okay. We will work with our police department and our um business community to kind of refine what regulations we would want around that and I think we'll be in a better position to pursue that next year. So that's something we'll

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probably work on with our legislators in the interim. But just wanted to introduce the concept of a social district to you. And there's also um just notes about partnerships. And I think you're um many of you are

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aware of the Morehead Cultural Mall who um you know like that would we are hoping will enhance our downtown. Um Klay County is seeking um capital investment funds to um have a nonsecured

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juvenile detention center expansion in Morehead. Um, the diversion, as I noted, is seeking funds for flood mitigation outside of Morehead that benefits Morehead. Passenger rail is another one that, um, is making some progress, and

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there's a lot of planning work going on in that. There's some others mentioned, but those are some big ones that are, you know, kind of looking for their way through the legislative process right now. Um, I didn't mention sustainable aviation fuel, but there are tax credits

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moving forward to give um credits to um the the use of the fuel in Minnesota off of the gas tax and um or fuel tax. And in order for a sustainable aviation

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fuel facility to be built in Morehead, um we need the partnership of both the federal and state government to make um Department of Energy loans available to have these fuel taxes to transport the

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fuel. And um there's so many aspects to it that um while we have a good site, there's a lot of work that we need and a lot of partnerships that will be needed to move forward with that facility. So we are monitoring that and offering our assistance in any way we can. Um but um

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you know it we're not leading that effort. So I just wanted to mention that as well. There might be times when we ask the EDA for resolution of support or something on any of these projects. So, um that's just kind of a summary.

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There's two weeks left in the legislative session and um you know, we don't know what the outcome will be until we know it and it's usually the last day or the day after. Um, so, um, more to come and I'll report back after

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the session is over on what we've achieved, but I think we're advancing ourselves, launching ourselves in every wave if we can. >> Thank you, Lisa. Commissioners, are there any other questions, comments?

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>> I do have one question. If an individual is interested in learning more about those the partnership items that you have listed that are listed here in the agenda, where's a good resource to check them out or are they all kind of individually managed?

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>> They're kind of individually managed. I if um you know the ones I don't have briefing sheets on, there's briefing sheets in the EDA packet. So hopefully that helps. And there are links to the bill numbers so that for this the ones the city is leading I have that

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information. Those other um partner organizations I can put you in touch with the appropriate contact person if that is of interest to you Jason. >> Thank you Lisa for for sharing that information with us. Obviously there's a

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a lot that you do and we appreciate you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you all. >> Okay, we'll move into the business items and the first um item is the Emery Affordable TIFF housing tiff. >> Amy, do you want to Are you speaking on

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that? >> Yes. Thank you. >> Um members, today we'll talk a little bit about the Emory apartment tiff uh certification process. Um this is a a tiff project that was begun in the year 2020

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and um as part of the um affordability aspect of this project they are required to keep a certain amount of their units um affordable. So there's 40% of the uni units that are available at this project

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are have to meet an AMI um of 60% or less. And every year this is a a basic housekeeping thing for the EDA in order to maintain their eligibility. We review um the their uh

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we review we review these each and every year. So, um, if you look in your packet, there's a there's background and key information about the project. There's a list of six different requirements that we look at and review each year.

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Um, and this year, uh, we're, you know, as the years progress, there's there's units that, um, are are certified in in a given year, and they may they may continue to live there, um, over a number of years. So, you'll see um,

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further down in the report item um, under item C, there's certain number of ite um, units. Seven units were certified in 2023 and 20 in 2024, 17 in 2025

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and then we have a number of units that are um currently at the time of that this report was created unreserved. So um in reviewing that they have met the requirements for keeping uh at least 40% of their

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units um reserved for those qualifying tendants. So, um I would ask that the the EDA uh review and and receive and accept this report and then we will be able to follow up then with the

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developer and give them their certification letter that they need in order to complete that process for this year. >> So Amy, do we vote on that or we just have to accept? >> We could have a motion to receive and

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accept. That would be perfectly fine. Okay, >> I'll make a motion to receive and accept the certification. >> I'll second. Deb White, >> there's discussion. You have to open it for discussion. >> Yes. Sorry about that. Any discussion on

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on Amy's report or on the TIFF report? Deb, >> thank you. I actually Amy, the part that you pointed out was what the part that I had a question about. It is a little confusing. What I want to know is what was the occupancy for those 52 units and

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I think so if I'm reading this correctly say like certified in 2023 seven units that was seven new units that were certified but we don't know of the total 52 how many so even right now um okay yeah if you can give

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us some information about that are they reaching that are we filling those spots because you know we have a shortage of affordable housing and so knowing if they're if they're sitting vacant, then you know that would be of concern. >> Yeah. The only the only um the only

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units that are sitting vacant right well at the time of the report are eight. Okay. So what what I meant in the the report is that if they were certified in 2023 and I'm saying that there's seven of those units, they continue to be

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still occupied by the same occupants when they were certified. So we wouldn't reertify them in this year. we're not going to, you know, continue to bother them unless they would not be, you know, if they would not qualify any no any

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longer, then they would not qualify to live there and it would be reertified at that point. >> That's what that's helpful. And so it sounds like right now of the 52, eight at the time that you gathered this information, eight were vacant. So um

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>> and which obviously there's a lot of turnover in any apartment and so I don't think that that's necessarily an unusual number but is do we have any sense that in the previous years was it around that same number or that were vacant at the

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time that you did the report? From what I can recall in 2023 and 2024 because the project was new enough there were some vacancies as well but the requirements in the tiff agreement is that they be reserved for those. So

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they're not able to then um you know lease them to others. They need to continue to be reserved for those people that qualify. So I think they've met the requirements of their agreement. >> Yeah, I think so too. It was more of if there was anything we or or that could

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be done if they say they had a high u or a low occupancy rate in those ones then again where we'd have a mismatch between we know that we need more affordable housing but maybe that you know people weren't making the connection that this was a source that they could go to. So

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um but I'm glad to hear that if it's still relatively low then that's good. >> Thanks. >> Thank you Commissioner White. Any other questions or discussion? Seeing that, we'll move on to the economic development report.

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>> We do we did want to finish up that. >> Sorry about that. Yes. >> Yeah. >> Sorry, Addison. >> Abdi. >> Hi, >> Anderson. >> Hi, >> Balco. >> Hi, >> La Point.

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Hi, >> Larson. I >> Moore. >> Yes. >> Ness. >> Hi. >> Schaeld. >> Yes. >> Soik. >> I. >> And White. >> Yes. >> Thank you, commissioners. I appreciate

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that. >> Thanks, Amy. >> Good afternoon, everyone. It's great to have a full house here today. Um we didn't meet last week so there's a lot of information in the economic development report but I will uh just highlight a few of them uh that are the

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most exciting as we move forward. So uh we continue to have meetings with Essentia Health um as they have their plans uh getting together for their new healthcare clinic uh in uh in downtown Morehead at the old Wells Fargo site. Um so they are really uh moving along. They

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have plans to be um breaking ground internally um around September. And so their their goal is to have this open up early in 2027 um seeing patients and they have some really great plans. I can't wait for um for Essentia to start sharing them with the community because

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I think that will be very exciting. uh at the last meeting we had last week, they do have plans on uh reskinning the um old Wells Fargo sign to say essentia um to just kind of tie that back into the community so they can they know that uh it is actually coming um not just an

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announcement along the way. So that is really exciting for our whole downtown plan. Um for those of you that made it uh hopefully you if you have not been there, you need to go. The loop is open and it is absolutely amazing. Uh there was a great um ribbon cutting ceremony

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um on the 18th of April um with lots and lots of people and dignitaries and so really great press coverage not only uh locally but uh the Star Tribune actually had a article uh for statewide about the good things that are happening in our downtown Morhead. So that was really uh

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gratifying to see. Um the one stat um we all know um in this area and I think we're probably pretty typical when something new opens everybody shows up. they want to see it whether it's a restaurant or a a library. And so sometimes it gives you some false hope

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and like everybody just shows up and then four weeks later it's empty. The the greatest stat is within the first week we had over 700 new library cards taken out. Um which I think is just a fantastic number that says I'm planning to come back. Um which is which is

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really really gratifying. So, the the staff and the team that put the building together um and Megan and her team that are running it, it's just been a fantastic um fantastic new place in downtown Morehead. And I think that's going to do us very well as we develop

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the rest of the blocks uh across the uh across the downtown area. Uh a couple of cool things. Um the the chambers um annual meeting happened in March. Um and uh Mr. Davidson Davidman from uh Delta Airlines was there. uh was really

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talking about um you know it was really focused on Hector and the expansion and and what a important uh place Fargo Morehead is for for the airline. But he also um was nice enough to dive into uh SAF and the project that's

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just across the river from uh uh from the airport uh with sustainable aviation fuel and just kind of called that out and talked about Delta's commitment along with other airlines for SAF. So, it's it's one of these great things that um as Lisa talked about where it's still a legislative priority that we need to

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keep pushing, but people are talking about it um in many sectors. This is not just a Morehead um hope and dream to have sustainable aviation fuel, but it's a real thing for Minnesota and it's a real thing for the United States. So, it's a it's a great thing to be happening. Uh tag on with Lisa. Uh we

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did attend the the chamber um Morehead Day at the Capitol. uh it was the largest contingent that they've had in the the five six years that they've been going to the capital. We had a great um slate of everyone that we were able to see our local legislators um regional

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and statewide um the department of agriculture um governor's office had people come in and talk to us. So it was really good to make these connections. um the uh so we're talking about our issues whether it's staff or or flood

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mitigation everything else people are listening we're talking and so it's just great to have um a contingent like that from outstate Minnesota come down to the capital and show that our citizens and our businesses are engaged in this process um and I think it it just goes

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really well for for Morehead to show that uh the other uh couple of the things um the the Center Avenue construction construction which is going to come this summer. Um just calling out we'll have some businesses there that'll be a little bit harder to get to. So we'll all want to support them uh the

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best we can as that as that comes along. And then 1 Avenue North is uh part of our um the city's plan uh to redo that from about um 12th Street all the way up to Churches United where Highway 10 comes in. Uh new plans have already been

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starting to come in. We had business meetings um for all of the owners, the property owners and business um people along there. We've had really great engagement from all of the businesses um and especially at the at the end with uh

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with Micah's mission and Gateway Gardens. There's a safety issue um for for um for people using those services. Um, and we're going to uh working with uh with the city um and working with those trying to make it a safer

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intersection. Um looking for more uh safety, less ability to just kind of cross the street at any given time. And that's not the place to be doing it uh along that curve of 1 Avenue North. So, it's just it's wonderful to have um continue to have uh the businesses and

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the owners in this community engage in the process more than a year out. Um, so I think that that bodess well for everything that we do here in Morehead. Uh, the last one, um, which just happened last week, um, Morehead puts on the citizens government academy. Um, it's for anybody that just wants to

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learn more about, uh, the city of Morhead and what we do. Um, and they touch all areas of the of the city. Uh, the last one that I participated in along with, uh, city manager Dan Molly and Lisa Bod with government affairs got to talk about economic development and

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kind of how this all works. Holy cow were they engaged. Um it was 30 40 people, Lisa and it was questions and questions and questions. So just wonderful dialogue of people really interested in what's happening in

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Morehead um and really um just really engaged. And so it was a great process. So if anybody's ever interested in that, sign up for it next year because you get a lot of tours of what's happening in the city and you get a lot of connection with people who are making decisions and

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and to understand it. So I was really my first one I participated in. I was really impressed with our citizens um asking a lot of lot of great questions. So um and with that uh that uh I'll just highlight um some of the um at the end

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some of the upcoming Spark Center events as the Spark as the loop is open and the Spark Center is starting to come on. Um a lot of the engagement for our entrepreneurs is going to start um uh coming coming up. Um, a lot of them are just uh an hour here and an hour there,

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but we're just trying to get that place um filled and get people excited. I have been told um that the space is being used a lot already. Um, and so that's that's really a great piece that uh um and once this programming comes

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together, I just envision our entrepreneurs here in Morehead getting together, sharing good ideas, and and working together to build their businesses will be um will be wonderful for us um going in the future. Uh with that, I'll answer any questions if there

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are. >> Any commissioners questions or comments? Commissioner White. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, Matt, I I wanted to go back to the um part of your report on center a and I appreciate that you're mentioning that there's

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conversations happening uh with greater MBA and other partners and I just want to point out because that is an area that if we think back over the last few years the the folks that have had to endure the most because um all for most

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of it other than COVID everything was for great reasons. We have taken um that area. We've completely changed the makeup of the street. So, we've made it more bike and pedestrian friendly. Um great source for parade routes. We've torn down one mall and now we're

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building a new downtown. We're building an underpass. All of these things that have been building on our future, but have been very challenging for the businesses. And so, you know, I think more than I almost anywhere else in Morhead, I think that area and now we're

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getting close to the finish line, but they're going to have another rough summer. And so, helping them get through that. And so, I just wondered what other things we as an EDA might do. And I've mentioned this before that I feel like we have folks here that can be great ambassadors and just, you know, out

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there talking to everybody and encouraging them to support their businesses. But even um you know one thought I had is we used to do the business crawl the Morhead business crawl and what if we were to do something in our downtown and work with

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downtown um Morehead Inc. greater MBA and maybe this is the conversations that's happening but and and with um uh our EDA and get people have a night where we're out walking around going to each of those different businesses um

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talking to the owners a little bit but also just making sure that we're patronizing them and helping them get through this. So, I would just love to see us doing some some other things and also just to remind folks to really get the word out, encourage them to support those um downtown ones again, especially

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around the Center AB area. Thanks. >> Uh a follow up on that. I had the opportunity I met with one of the owners of the B of a business on Center Avenue last week um talking about that very thing. Um timing is everything. You know, when the project happens and and for business owners, construction is one

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thing. knowing exactly when it happens is the most important thing for them that then you set up your business before and after and know what you're doing. I'll steal a little bit from the greater MBA because this was brought up. When the construction happens, the businesses there um on that short amount

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of center that's uh still open from 8th Street. They have their plan to do that kind of crawl um and highlight each other's businesses during that time. So, I'm happy to report that we're having those conversations about how are we going to make sure that um they have

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access and they're they're thinking about their own um Facebook followers because everybody has their own kind of um everybody has their own following, but then sharing the posts for each other. So, it's in the works right now. So, I think as we get closer, we'll be

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able to give more detail. But I'm I love what they're doing and I think it's going to be something that can really be shared with the greater community, especially on Facebook and they go to LinkedIn and all these other places where it's going to get shared and then shared again and shared again and people will know um what they're up against and

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how long that we're going to be able to really kind of collectively give a great big Morhead hug to them during this time. >> Thank you, Commissioner White. Any other questions or comments?

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Okay. Um, one last housekeeping thing. Um, you'll see on your agenda, um, number eight, the information, the update, and I would invite you to to really visit those sites and make sure that you are a breast of all the

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information because they do change, you know, especially with the new Spark Center coming in and all of the events that they have. Um, and if you haven't, sign up for the City of Morehead emails as well because um, and encourage people to sign up for the the City of Morehead

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emails. They're just very helpful and you know, I know we all get a ton of emails, but they are very informational as well. So, anything else with that? I think we can adjourn at 12:37 and early.

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>> Thank you everyone. >> You