Okay. All right. This is our monthly uh or local economic development meeting and it's October the 28th at 6:30. So with that we do the roll call. Uh Mayor Allen >> here, Jamie,
Dan here, >> Adam here. Jan here and Kathy >> here. >> Kurt here and Jason is on a at a conference so he will not be here.
>> So tonight we have Carl Rogers joining us for a potential candidate and we'll have a a brief interview with some questions and uh get to that in just a minute. So, uh, with that, um, I'll make a motion we approve the
agenda. >> Second. >> Brief agenda, but there's some good good subjects here. So, all in favor say signify by saying I. I post the packet with your September 23rd
meeting minutes. Did you get a copy of those? I think >> Yeah, there's separate page of the packet. >> Okay. And we can press >> I make a motion we approve the minutes. >> Second.
I'd like to um >> Any questions, comments? >> Yeah. Um, changing my name. I got spelled a different Where did I see that? >> Oh, that's on the agenda. >> Underjourn. It says got my name spelled
really different. >> Oh, >> on adjourn of the last meeting. That's >> Yeah. T H O R N D S O N. >> Oh, so I just like to correct that to have my name spelled correctly. >> Sure. Good point.
>> So, Jan, what is the correct spelling? T H R O N D S O N >> T H R O N D >> S O N >> S O N >> Borenson. Is that correct? >> Pronunciation pronunciation
>> I spelled >> Okay, any other comments, questions? See that? All those in favor signify say I. >> I go public hearings old business. U first item is our branding project
status. Yeah, the branding project has come getting towards the end. Um so they had a vote. Tulip Tree issued a online vote for the final brands. And below you can see I've added an extra as
well the additional memo on this side. The final four were the O's or no with a bridge or no with a bridge and then the oroo with a tree. Uh the orno what was it? So, let's
see. 1D, which is the orno with a thick O on it here, was uh the winner of the I guess you could say the online vote >> proposal for.
So, with this, it's they're still going she's going to I I posted a picture of the tree here because she has made the tree uh less jagged and the branches less scary. Got a request to do that. >> So,
>> wait a minute. I'm lost. I I can't find my picture. >> So, if you look in the memo memorandum piece of paper down here extra piece of paper. >> Gotcha. right there. >> I've got this one right here, but I didn't have the
>> Yeah, it's right >> in the packet. >> So, it's kind of in the packet and our extra piece of paper. Sorry. >> Okay. >> This vote came out after my agenda was done. Sorry. Sorry about that. >> Gotcha. Yep. I got it right here.
>> Wait a minute. So, this is the one >> right here. Right here. >> So, this one is the winner to this point. >> This one? Yeah. Okay. This is the picture of the tree and how they kind of made it less scary.
>> Put two E and two F. >> So I got the tree in there twi in the packet twice in the packet. It's the old tree in the additional memo that I've push here. That is what they have remade the tree
to make look less scary. So overall the overall winner at this point is 1D which is the thick O or an outgo. >> Now when you say winner that's the committee that's voted this part.
>> That's what they >> it's not the community vote yet. Okay. >> Yeah. So, the reason why she's putting the tree out there as well, she'll put both of the finalists and the community will then have the final say from what I understand on
this. >> Uh, so they'll have two to choose from. So, we won't just put one out there and be like, "This is what they'll have. The community will have to choose from those two." Uh, next step will be to strategize or plan out the community vote phase.
Um and then from that point on you will have a brand for the city of Warogal which will be on city documents, city uh vehicles, you name it. >> Are they color options?
>> Yeah, color for the vote for the two. >> So they'll do color options and then do the vote of the tree verse the bridge. >> Correct. Yep. >> Do they have any ideas on how they're going to do the vote or what they're
recommending on how to vote on this? >> I haven't heard anybody. No, and I think they've done before. So, I my assumption is that they'll, you know, post a with signs and virtual postings of the
two possibilities and give people the opportunity to go to a certain website to vote for it or come to city hall and vote for it if they don't want to do it online. That's my assumption. >> And then with the project there's um the tagline that goes along with this
more introduction of how the tagline would be. There's been no activity with the tagline development at all. This maybe first piece was just the branding or the picture. So, so my my my question is is that she talked about black and white as we were doing the committee
meeting, but then I always asked was there going to be any color to it >> and they said that the color would be that. So, um if you send it out to a vote, they look at a black black and white and there's no color to it. I mean color
or >> I thought there was going to be color in the community options. >> I do too. But I >> and she's saying no. >> No, I just haven't confirmed that. >> Okay. >> But when we always talked, I was always minus that there was going to be some color. When we were voting and and and
doing it with black and white, it was just easier to do that. But after that, it would have some color to it. And so in order before it goes out to vote, I would think you'd want to be >> colorized however, >> however, however you put it out there. Otherwise, you put this out and say,
"Now, >> yeah. Now I got to go back and color this. >> Just my thought process. I We're almost there. >> 9/10 of the way home. I just got to come up with the last of the shading or whatever they want to
>> play in your email. They've had some turnover and those are some reasons for getting slower getting the information back to us. So, >> okay. So, we'll kind of see what the next steps are with that. etc. We'll update when we hear more after and I
can't tell you if the final vote will be before our next EDA meeting or not. Um I'm assuming by the end of the year. >> Yeah. I >> Well, I'm not sure if this is going to go to council after the community input
or we're going to wait with the tagline, do it all together. Not sure what the process is. There's going to be peace meal going to council or the whole package when it's all done that goes to council. >> It sounds like it'd be more
use of our time. But >> if you uh had a design or whatever it was and I had to take a picture of it, I could talk to Dustin and I could put my 8 by12 sign up with a two pictures on it
up there. Everyone drives in >> and say vote >> this or that in the future to people on digital board. >> Yeah. >> To so to show the people the color or whatever it is. >> I just I just would offer that up that if I could do that I could uh
>> keep that in mind. >> They drive up you could actually see your logo. >> That's your sign, huh? >> That's fine. >> We're gonna have to put that to you. >> We might council meeting. See how council want Awesome.
>> You would like what I >> Well, I conservative conservative plan on what she proposed in the contract way. We could >> say, "Do you want to look at it?"
>> Huh? >> We need >> What I did is because >> one might not make sense without the other. goal was to sign the brakes I did for the for free speech form, but I did a K9 all the canines together to remember the
canines and ser >> any other comments? >> No. >> Okay. All right. >> So, are you going to follow up with Whitney? >> Yeah, I'll actually go. >> Okay. >> Um, dollars budgeted park trail. Yeah,
this is kind of information for the EDA that I've been in contact with uh the DNR and waiting for them to get back to me about, you know, one of the possibilities with park trails is to get them one of the possibilities maybe get over to the Douglas Trail or get up to
Pine Island. Uh I know the EDA director in Pine Island and to work with them to kind of connect those trails together. Uh it was one of the work session work requests from Rebecca when I left was work on the trail.
So the um Rohog R O G they've got a website or a map showing um comments and questions about all about Olmstead County and
suggestions and complaints things that people have concern about whether it's traveling too fast or the sun. um being over on Riverwood Drive or Riverwood Hills. >> Yeah.
>> Drive coming up to uh River Ben, whatever that is. Yeah. So, I noticed that there were several of those comments on there, you know, reducing the speed and we're looking at that with our 25 mph speed reduction program project. Um, so I took the liberty of
just putting a comment on 100th Street going west as a potential for a bike lane along 100 street to Douglas Trail. U and then made a note about the safe routes school safe routes project being
part of that or could be part of that. And I also put a note on this map from uh from the overpass on the west side on Lake Shady, the frontage road, putting another comment there about a safe school safe
routes going up to County Road 31, which is the road that goes across going past the uh the Pine Island School as being two projects. So that kind of ties in with what we talked about with uh working with the Pine Island and just
what Kurt just mentioned. So, um, it's out there for them to look at and, uh, evaluate. So, we'll see if it gets any traction. Can >> I add to that? >> Pardon me. >> Oh, can I just add to the because I bike all the time. >> What's your name, sir? >> Steve McTmer. >> Steve M. Yeah.
>> And, uh, it's like 1.3 miles up to the trail for that goes to the Douglas Trail by the school >> from Orinokco. >> Yeah. It's >> So, it's not that far. So, I just wanted to throw that in there. Funding. We're not talking five miles or six miles. >> In my note, I mentioned it the cost of
just driving it. >> Oh, 1.3 miles from the city limits. That's just going straight up. >> Yeah. Right up to that roundabout. >> Yeah, you can. It's a great path going this trail from there. Put the school to put the bridge in.
>> So, in my notes, it's just a six foot shoulder on each side, but I mentioned the idea of striping the bike forward rather than making it great. Whereas 100 Hunter Street is it needs a additional bike lane on the side construction.
>> So the best way you access that is on that frontage road on the west side. >> I think both frontage roads. >> Okay. >> You know on either side of 52. >> Yeah. >> They both have nice wide sides, you know, like six feet like Ryland said to go up there. But having striping would
be great. You know, make sure people are aware that you know the only time that people bike there >> to get up there. And the Douglas Trail is three miles from Casey's Corner to the to Douglas Trail is three miles. >> Yeah. >> So, it's a bit further. >> It's a bit more dangerous. I never bike
there. >> No, it's >> 100. But you would cross if you were on the east side, you cross then at the bridge across from the Oronokco auctions. >> If you side, that'd be the safest way to >> safest way to go either side
>> to go through. Yeah. >> So, anyway, that's I'm glad to hear your business, so it's good. We'll keep her going. >> All right. Um, any other comments about Park Trail? Next, new business. Um, there's an
agenda there on the chair, Chief, for your awareness. >> Yeah, I got it. Thanks. um city of Or local comprehensive plan. >> Yeah. So in your packet if you uh go back and there'll be a piece of paper with CEDA in the upper left upper right
hand corner. Um CEDA Community Economic Development Associates has the ability to create a comprehensive plan if cities choose to. So just kind of read this. One of my colleagues, Annie Nichols, is the manager and she's been I discussed with
her after speaking with Jason um options for updating the city's comprehensive plan. As you know, being residents of Orco, it's growing the possibility future growth is going to happen. And this what a comprehensive plan would be kind of a um it would give
you a an idea of how it should go. U so there's an example when you're interested. I didn't print it off because it's very large which is from Pine Island. They did a comprehensive plan a couple years ago. Uh the plan would identify future growth opportunities, establish a clear
long-term vision for O orono. The plan may help provide clarity and consistency for future development decisions. If desired, CEDA can be prepare a complete proposal for Oronokco EDA to review. Like I said, there's a link here and the
packet that I sent you has this link on it so you can look at see what they did for Pine Island. The CEDA pamphlet that I put in here was done by Annie and she's very thorough and what the plan would give you if you chose would be
such things as demographics, which is the population and future population growth, birth rates, total fertility rate, all that jazz. uh land use, what what you're going to use certain land for, housing projections, uh what economic development will look like,
transportation, public utilities, parks and wreck, natural resources. I mean, it'll lay out what orno looks like now and what it may or could look like in the future. You can see what this is, what I'm
proposing to you or bringing to the EDA is uh Annie would have a colleague come to our next meeting to kind of fill us in on what it would look like. And if that's something EDA would be willing to or want to do, I would plan to have her at the next meeting. Uh Annie would uh
virtually join the meeting. Um and she her and her colleague would lay out what it is they do. If it's something that EDA is not interested in, then I obviously we won't have them come to the next meeting. >> So to give you an idea, would we take about if it was a some if it was
something that the city would like to do, I think the last one was done in 2006. >> 2006, right? >> Um and it's recommend recommended about every 10 years should be done to cover
goals for the next coming 20 years. Uh it's about to get it done. 8 to nine months to complete. Uh the cost will be anywhere from $30 to $35,000. Uh there is some available funding through Compier's feasibility study grant for about $5,000. So we could take
$5,000 off of that final prize tag. If this is something that EDA EDA would like, I will schedule to have the zone the planning board come to our next meeting. Uh so that's kind of up to you guys.
Well, your conversation with case Jason um well first of all I appreciate knowing what CEDA can offer and you know the cost range and everything and and really good stuff. The only thing concern I would have the next steps it says they
could offer author an RFP with guidance for other firms. So that may be something the gohead >> the council may want to see is just an RFP written um to other firms that would be interested in >> doing a comprehensive plan. There's no
question needs to be done. Um at the same time our future land use map needs to be updated too and Stan Tech did that back in 20 2020 or 2021 I guess. Um,
so I mean the comprehensive plan could be maybe a standalone or it could be combined with a update on our future land use map too. >> Yeah. >> Is the comprehensive plan of a city always kind of up to the economic development committee? Is that kind of
typical? >> Many times it is. Mhm. >> And um is it pretty typical that most cities engage in an outside party to do the that kind of planning? Is that pretty standard? Unless you're a bigger city that has that kind of personnel.
>> If you're in a major city like Rochester would have their own >> Yeah. department do this uh where smaller communities would not. That's where CEDA comes in. Yeah. Otherwise to get a plan without this, we'd have to commit
uh somebody in the city to do it for us or >> Well, you can there are other organizations other than CEDA. >> Oh, gotcha. >> Yeah. So, we could request for a proposal to RFP to see if there would somebody else would like to do it. >> Gotcha.
>> So, a question on your comprehensive plan. I my question is that watch list a lot of things as seas grow everything else you have one water tower up there in the hill and so in the comprehensive plan
how much will that water tower serve in other words communitywise one tower as you start to grow where's the next tower the height or you got to put it up in the air to do that um >> that's a good question and water and
sewer has looked at that and what water and sewer is proposing in the budget for 2026 is a comprehensive water study to answer those kinds of questions of our capacity for there. Do we need a second well? What would it be? And that's like
a $12,000 item for the council decide if we want to budget money to do that study. So, we're also looking at a comprehensive water study and we're also looking at a comprehensive storm storm water utility service too. Now, granted, we
don't have that many firms. We got a few storm water downtown here with curbs, but it also covers it also covers um driveways, culverts, ditches that need to be cleaned out. So there's a lot of things that the storm water effects, you know, so
that's and that's another it's like a five or $6 thousand budget proposal. So but yeah, the water study is a is a >> important thing to look at going forward. The other thing the question I ask is because you have the behind
people's they have a server center if I'm understanding that correct over there in that building and with the new AI and everything else coming up. I'm hearing it takes thousands of gallons of water to keep these things cool and they're
not it's not like a radiator that just running the water and dumping it down the drain which made it a total waste of water. they wouldn't be running that through some type of a chiller to cool the water. So, that's just my my my thing as the people come in is that you could run
they're in a lot of these cities, they're putting up these server centers and kind of a dry areas that don't have a lot of water and they're running down that way. So as Or &o grows very well someone could say you know little town like or uncle like over here
>> we put a service center or service center out there or I don't know how big industry would come here because it's of the area but I the water thing to me is a is a the one tower and what you got going whether your lines coming off that could serve
everybody the pressure and then again the fire department needs >> the pressure is good to 100 street. Okay. >> It's when you go across the street uh and you start going like a quarter of a mile to the south. That's where the water that's what's that's why we
envisioned our um our phase 1C. Phase 1C is it goes a quarter mile south of the 100 street >> and that's what the our 20-year steward design was designed for. If you go any further than that, that'll be more maybe
another trunk line under the highway and and the water tower. >> Okay. >> So, there's one thing about the the 2006, if you had a chance to read it, it's it's amazing because all predicated having a sewer system >> and everything in there in the 2006 was
density and to serve the payment of the system. All about growth is going to happen was just they were thinking about it back then. Okay. And it's very interesting to see that operand sleep, but it does need updating. There's no question.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah, I guess follow up on what Kathy has mentioned about ADA if this is so this would be ADA's budget money then or that city's budget money. >> Well, it's a comprehensive plan for the entire city. So, that's something that have to be discussed. Okay.
>> City council level. >> So, right now there's nothing in the budget. I don't think there's anything in that's actually being proposed for this. >> Um I can double check with Jason, but I don't think we talked about any comprehensive plan in 2026.
>> That wasn't part of them. I don't believe that was part of our >> I don't think it's part of our EDA. >> It could be a possibility for 207. >> You know, would this be too early to have have come in? just give you an idea
of what the comprehensive plan. >> I appreciate knowing exactly what we're looking at >> because I know she's got other communities she's working on. So that could be a possibility where like I said we bring them in and she
kind of gives you an idea what a comprehensive plan is and then when 2027 budget rolls around >> everybody's a little more aware that we're behind and we want to catch up. So the growth of you know the projected growth of war now go >> right
>> something to look into. >> Well I guess knowing we don't have the funding for 2026 do we still would like to have Andy come in and talk to us. >> I don't want to talk. >> Yeah. No. I'd be inclined to say no. I I
guess part of me feels like you know when Rebecca was here we did that town hall meeting over here and we did a lot of uh >> community input. community input and I think at that time we did learn a fair amount about our demographics what people in our community wanted for land use housing we had all those things broken down and I don't know how much
different this would be or if you know my default thought is our communities was it 1500 people strong now uh is gathering all that information we're going to have enough use of it to make it worthwhile you know I don't know it's hard hard to say if you know we're projecting that we'll have 2,000 people
in 10 years or 15 years and whether or not it's necessary to gather this data I mean, the data sounds great, but if you're not going to use it, then it's it's a lot of money to spend to find things out that we're not applying potentially. >> Yeah. Like the 2728 time frame, late
2728 time frame would make more sense if we've got 300 more homes >> built by that time. But >> yeah, other developments kicking off and things, >> right? I mean, if we're I think the city's trending towards
getting these comprehensive plans in order. Um, the good point is we didn't add it to this year's budget. Um, but on top of the ones that Ryland mentioned, we're doing a a streets and roads
comprehensive plan. So, like city's trending that way. So, but I don't know that this is an immediate need right now. >> Yeah. I think our next year is is um or what I see happening is we have our
condo project by two sisters coming on board starting. Um that's about the only thing we know for sure. than whatever happens over people's energy co-op strip land what their drain field is. So
I think it's it's still small numbers but I do think it >> it may lend itself for waiting a year before we spend the money and plan for it a little bit more. >> Okay. Well I can tell >> we appreciate your offer but I think
we'll wait middle of next year something like that. Well, yeah, July, August before we start doing our budget planning. Okay, >> before the September preliminary budget, at least we can get the dollar figures in our preliminary budget. We then go
there to if it stays, if it sticks for the 2027. Okay. >> Okay. But I just, you know, the link is in in his email, so check that. Pine Island. >> Actually, two of them. There's one on
the seed a sheet and there's one almost two. It is very thorough. >> Carl, >> so Ceda did Pine Islands is what you're saying. >> Okay. >> All right. I'll share that with her. All
right. Thank you. This item was this Carl Rogers. >> All right. The application for economic development was in your packet. He answered questions very well. Uh he's here for tonight because one of the bylaws
is that EDA shall execute an interview process before the final selection is approved at city council. So we as an EDA will recommend if Carl fits fine to the city council for approval or we're looking for a
recommendation. Dave, we have three questions for you Carl. I'll ask the first one here. What would you consider your strengths for becoming an EDA member? >> Well, yeah. Um, thanks for having me and uh my application is in the the packet
as well. And I think some things that come to mind for me, I'm 44 years old now and since uh graduating college in 2005, um I studied biomedical sciences with a minor in chemistry and uh ever since then um have been self-employed uh
essentially. So, um the the uh skills that come along with that are I believe doing whatever needs to be to be be done get that done to keep keep things moving forward. And also um what I appreciate about that
environment is um kind of a no limit uh type of a potential um where you can make things as big or as small as you really want them to be. Um, also, um, really embracing, uh, some outside the
box thinking and curiosity around if things really need to, uh, always be the same way they've always been. And, um, I think, uh, within the capacity here of our growing town of Oronokco, there could be some really fun and unique
opportunities um, to discuss that. Um I I do like uh trying to implement positive change and um yeah enjoy working with a diverse group of people um through that. I've learned a lot through um selling real estate for the
past 15 years and working with a very diverse group of people handling a large most likely their largest asset of their life. And um as Adam knows how that goes. Uh there can be some conflict management um involved with that. And uh
I think um even with an interesting project we just had recently up here on our Second Avenue Southwest shared driveway, there was some interesting opportunities for some uh cooling of emotions and the conflict management of
when money gets involved with a shared project. So it was good. >> Good. >> Keep the escalation to a better >> Yeah. I I I Yep. I try to be the peacemaker and the peacekeeper. >> Blacktop's nice though. >> And it's lovely. It's lovely. And it's
nice and quiet walking down the garbage at early in the morning on a nice smooth black top. So that's good. >> Nice. >> Mhm. >> So we bring our golf carts down there for gold rush drift around the corners now instead of being rock or
>> um >> are you talking about the your driveway then? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Great. That's nice to have that done. >> All right, so the second question, um, it's a couple things and I'll wrap up the line. So, how would you rate your
organizational skills for EDA project work? And additionally, any experiences that you would that would help the EDA um, website work, graphic design experience for brochures or marketing materials, financial, etc.
Yeah, I think um you know again kind of real estate but also uh with a more heavy focus on a volunteer role within um real estate. In the past 5 years I've served as a volunteer on the uh local assa association board of directors. Um and I'm currently finishing 2025 year as
the um local association president. Um, so with that, I don't know the scope of EDA project work, but um have been involved with um some multi-million dollar budgets um with that. And um I love kind of taking the organizational
seat and helping people um gather and and uh bring together information um to come up with with a plan. um uh really using um our strategic plan within the Seymar Association to question what is
it that we're actually doing to fulfill these objectives. Um experiences I do have I have dabbled a little bit in very basic um website development over the years. Um I'm a big fan of uh the Google
suite. So uh many times um when projects are coming together I I'll love to dive in and make spreadsheets out of it and bring all the data together to uh present it clearly um with uh graphs and um images that can really speak volumes
as to how sometimes pages of data can um um have your eyes glaze over whereas it could be presented much more easily within a graph or a chart or things like that. So, um yeah, and then being in the
real estate realm as well, marketing and uh social media, um happy to get involved and help in any way I can with that. And most recently I've had a lot of fun brainstorming with uh artificial intelligence AI the various platforms with chat GPT and Grock and um using
that to um again kind of think outside the box on how we can be uh using technology to move things forward and embrace that wave that's the unevitable wave of technology that's coming. So yeah.
>> Yeah. Good. Right. take. Oh, sure. Sorry. Uh, in your final question here, Carl, please share with us what you think that an EDA can do for the city and its residents. Yeah, I think what comes to mind for me with this is um making economic growth
and new business uh kind of planting a really memorable and and favorable experience so that um it's easy uh and um enjoyable to uh set roots down here
in Oronoko. Um, I think the two two sisters and Dollar General likely could be could learn a lot um from those. I don't know all the inner workings and the behind thes scenes details of how that all went. Um, but um to continue on
with uh bringing um small businesses like that uh to to benefit our little community community here. And um even though it's not a massive trip into to Rochester, um we love just popping down a few minutes to Dollar General and
that's been a huge uh I think um positive impact for for our town here. So for small businesses and then for residents to just embrace community development and um yeah,
again, just making it a safe and um enjoyable place to be. Okay. Does anybody else have any questions? Carl, those are our kind of our three questions we want to touch base on. >> Yeah, that's a question. As I looked at
your thing, you said the least favorable thing or Opal and you kind of explained that. I guess I would like to why you what the issue is there. Least favorable thing. >> Yep. you wrote on there brief experience
in brainstorming adding a bathroom to an out building. It seemed to be overpaying them and creating opportunity. >> You tried to do some work and and you bumped into some roadblocks. >> It just see Yeah, it seemed it seemed more work than um like it was a little bit of a
roadblock to to getting that done. Um it seemed difficult to >> From who? I guess you from >> I'm not sure if she's around. Is she still >> No, it's the former city administrator. >> Yeah.
>> Jan. No, that's Jen. No, >> no. Sunny. >> Yeah. >> Wasn't um >> Sorry. >> No, that's right. I just I just curious is >> Yeah. I think it we have the same trouble with our garage about the same
time, you know, kind of a >> um >> nobody knew what >> seemed to be. Yeah. Really? And I know it's an older, you know, lot we have back there and really expensive project to hook up some things even though, you know, we just wanted it to be very
basic. Um, it seemed like it was um a lot more difficult than we wanted to. >> So, you had to follow codes, >> right? >> They wanted you to follow codes. >> Yep. It would be for It was just a question on adding a bathroom in there, >> right? When they showed you what when
you follow the codes, what it all entertains. >> Yep. you see the dollars involved in it and you go but that's why they have codes. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. To answer my I just was what it was is that they didn't give you a bad time. They just said here's the
here's the rules and regulations that you got if you want to do this is the steps you have to take and when you see that list >> the dollar amount at the bottom of it it had nothing I mean ED or what my point is that is why you have policies and procedures. >> Yeah that's good. No it was it was
timely. It was we thought it would be a timely event to do something with that with the sewer project that was happening at the same time and um so it was I was unaware at at what of all it would entail and what it would take. So >> okay. >> Okay.
>> All right. Well, that uh concludes uh our interview, but I would um I would make a motion that would recommend uh Carl Robing a position, open position in our um EDA board. So, >> second,
>> third. any other comments for >> I do appreciate anybody coming in who wants to make the process easier and more straightforward, more transparent. That's um yeah, personal experience aside, I
the same same situation like not exactly, but it just seemed harder than it should have been and and looking into things. So, anybody that has a goal of making it easier and more straightforward, welcome aboard.
>> Home all the red tape and all you got to go through to get something done and how about we just streamline it. >> Carl, thanks for coming in tonight. >> Thanks, bro. >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> Go rabbits paper. probably saying I
>> I >> Hey, let's make that an action item for the EDA to recommend approval. So, >> I'll be in contact with you, Carl. I'll let you know that >> it's up now for the city council.
>> Yeah, just for at this point, >> just a couple things just for your Carl for your >> volunteering. That's >> Sure. I've known Carl since I've lived here and and uh wow, he's always been an impressive person to talk to. He's
>> always well informed and informative and friendly. >> Thanks, Kathy. >> Yeah. >> So, a couple things we talked about was uh the community input. You were aware of that about a year and a half ago. We had a community meeting of the fire
department. Yep. >> Yeah. What's just notes up on the wall, right? Categorizing of things. >> So, if you haven't seen that report, I'll email that to you. >> Report that Rebecca put together all the answers. So,
all right. Um, possible river park development. Yeah. I think so. You can see here we're on 6D C, excuse me.
Um, I was a part of a meeting on October 7th. The meeting members were Craig Johnson of Majestic Homes, Todd Widing of Dwell Reality, uh, Joe Bail, your city engineer, administrator Jason Baker, and myself. There was an inquiry into the River Park
uh the big lot out there and I put a map as well that you can see within your packet where we're talking about u Majestic Homes was inquiring on the possibility of possibly putting eight future residential lots in there. Land
is owned as residential. Future site development was discussed with city engineer. Storm water management, parkland dedication, water and sewer services were discussed. and the size of future lots were discussed as well. And it was there was no offer made or anything. It was just talking about it.
Uh the is this used to be is it the septic field >> drainage field and the majestic homes builder and the realtor are very well aware of that. Um and it was just kind of informational meeting to from the s
engineer to see if houses can be built there. uh and the from his point of view they could and so it's just kind of keeping the EDA in the loop is what we were speaking about in the meeting. >> When they say a lots have they is that
compared to the size lots that everybody else has. Isn't everybody on an acre out there? >> Yeah, roughly the same size. >> Yeah, I think every I think most >> bigger some cases >> 75 to to 1.5 acres, right? I think mine's one of the smallest at 75. And if you take the number of lots and start
cutting them up into one acre chunks, eight seems sensible. >> I think that's a total of 10 acres there of that drain field cuz it goes behind two of those houses there on Fifth Street as well. So,
>> so far as you know, there's been no followup meetings. >> Yeah, like I said, there's been no offers made or anything like that. And if there was, it would go to the city council or but future development within the city, you know, keep keep your eye on it
because it will be large lot like that with the city is >> Yeah, I've got a number of thoughts on that and and kind of wanted to talk about anyway feeling like, you know, I live in the neighborhood, so of course like a lot of my neighbors, I would love to see another pickle ball court go up there or something more fun, right? The
organic yards or hockey rink or something. that involves cost. It seems like with the transition into the city stew and water that it make a ton of sense to cut that lot up into buildable lots that will have, you know, mapping covenants of our our current covenants or old covenants rather than bringing in
a bunch of small split level homes on quarter acres, anything like that. It seems to me almost like a foregone conclusion that the city should sell the land uh and and develop it sooner than later. Nobody wants that in their backyard for a while. But it makes a lot
of sense to maintain, you know, the continuity in the neighborhood to have similar siding products, similar style homes, and do it and get it over with. It'll be pain in the butt for three or five years, but but I think it's a good idea to develop it and to develop it sooner. I've expressed that in the past at a city council meeting or two.
>> Um, so I I like the idea for sure. I I think the the you know, one of the city council members said that he'd like to sell it to a developer and just be done with it, and that's is what an example of that would be. uh Majestic Homes got a lot of experience in the Carl does too working with with them and they built uh Brandon
Walker's house, the blue one, the last house before the drain field. Uh so he has familiarity with our neighborhood. He's built before. He knows how to build these kinds of homes. So as far as an option of selling it to a developer to to then let them cut it up and build, I think Craig Johnson and Majestic Homes
would be a great uh uh person to sell it to. one of the first names I could think of in my line of work that I'd like to see come do work there because he's reputable, he's honest, he's going to do a good job and he's going to keep his guys together, you know, keep things clean up. Um, and Todd Whiting's an excellent real estate agent also, so he
would represent, you know, uh, the questions I have are the main thing I think would would be, you know, does it make more sense to sell it to a developer and without knowing what they would offer? That's that's we don't have anything yet. But if we knew what they're offering, uh, then it seems like the next step might be kind of a a costbenefit analysis of does the city
develop it themselves and sell the individual lots, uh, which I've advocated for in the past because I think that's how you put the most money in your pocket, right? If you're the home seller, you're the seller or the property seller, you're going to get the most money by doing it yourself and selling it, I think, exposed through the
MLS market. You know, sell the lots as oneacre lots to anybody and everybody that wants to come pay the most for them. I'm sure Craig's thought is is to pay three or $400,000 or something of the like to then have him cut it up, sell it, and there's expenses associated with with cutting up the land. But I think with our, you know, attorney that
we have on staff, we've got real estate agents in the EDA, you know, I don't think it would be all that complicated to to do it ourselves as an option. So, I think it when the time comes, if the time comes, it would be sensible to to dig in a little bit and get a feel for what are the lots worth if we do it ourselves. what's the potential profit
in a reasonable conservative manner versus, you know, dubbing it on the developer and letting them do it. Uh, so I think those are kind of like the two main questions. Um, and then from there, you know, is is the would Craig Johnson be an exclusive builder? Is he going to cut up to eight lots, nine lots and put
them for sale and build a few houses, or is he going to be an exclusive builder, meaning only he can build on them? And so if you come to buy that lot, you have to build with him. And that's something that developers do sometimes when they start up a new neighborhood. And that's nice for the builder because they're going to collect the income from the build as well. But is it best for the
quick development of, you know, the 8 acres? You know, yes or no. Um, and then, you know, and then going further down with that process is is time frame. You know, if you sell it to them, I would strongly recommend I think everybody's already in the same mindset of having them follow the current
covenants that we have in the neighborhood to keep that continuity. again. Um, and do you say, you know, can we require them to have it done in 5 years or 7 years versus, you know, letting it sit for 10 or 15 years and a couple, you know, it'd be nice to get all the trucks and the development and
the dirt and gr in and out and and and done with in a reasonable manner. Um, so that's my two cents is is I think that's kind of what it'll boil down to is not are we going to develop it, but when and is it the city doing it or do we sell somebody else to do it? And Craig would be a perfect uh candidate for doing that. He's got experience doing that on
a number of different neighborhoods in town. He's been doing it for a long time. >> That's a I guess the answer to all your questions is yes. >> Yeah. Uh >> but I think you know I'm not you know this is kind of new to us because we've the city itself has never done any type
of development or selling lots or whatever the case may be. So >> yeah, >> I I don't know if this will if the process uh will come back to EDA for making recommendations or how do you envision >> well so >> what goes to council or we make
recommendations to council or >> we can definitely make re I would the way I look at it like in Zimroto we're trying to sell lots and from the city it's different than being from a realer's point of view not saying it's a bad idea but >> right
>> it feels as if you sell the whole chunk of land to a developer, it would go a little bit more a little smoother situation. >> It'd like to be easier, more streamlined. >> Yep. Yep. And and that's why, you know, you may not need to spend a lot of time
with city councils or anybody else's until Craig gives you a number because if he's thinking $200 or $300,000, you know, I guess, you know, I printed off some past sales from Ornoo. I think that the lots they're flat, kind of boring, not walk out, but very easy to chop up, uh, based off the way they look now. So,
uh, you know, similar lots are selling for $1, $120,000. So, if you're conservative at $100,000 per lot, maybe it's worth $800,000, but nobody's going to give you $800,000. And we wouldn't I wouldn't think that asking $800,000 would be reasonable because there is cost associated with breaking it up. And then now once you've broken it up,
generally speaking, you pay higher taxes on it. Maybe we don't have to charge ourselves taxes. I don't know how that works, but but you tend to pay higher taxes for while you're folding it now. Um, so so I'm just thinking, you know, easier, great. But but again, the costbenefit analysis, is it is it $300,000 he wants to offer or $500,000?
And then where do we identify the worthwhileness of of cutting up? And I do think if we did develop it ourselves, it would be, you know, going through that process with the attorney, but from there, I'd recommend absolutely hiring a real estate agent to list the properties for sale. And now you've got that professional helping you from the
beginning to the end. you know, with the development, pay them the traditional commissions. Uh, it's still going to be a lot better because what you're paying for a lot of time with the realtor fee is exposure to all the buyers where you sell it to the developer. He's setting the prices. It's quick, quick, quick. Uh, we just might be leaving a lot of meat on the bone if we just default to
sell it to the developer. I have a question and guys probably one of you two might have a good answer for this but what's the feasibility to partner with a developer on something like this um to where they would be creating flats we would be selling the
lots but they would have exclusive building rights. I mean, is that something that So, they would be creating like the plat map and they would be responsible for the remediation, but then we would be giving them exclusive building rights to
those areas, but also maintaining and selling the lots. >> Sure. >> I mean, um, my my my thought on the surface when you ask that question is that it's not big enough to be worthwhile. You know, once they choose to partner with us, it means that you're cutting out some of the middleman. You're cutting out some of the profitability of doing the development.
um you know having a survey done for $600 700 $800 and you draw a couple lines on there and identify it's pretty it's pretty much dividing itself the lot if you look at it and you think about you know the rectangles like go this way and a couple this way so I don't think it would be uh necessarily beneficial
you know what are you paying them to for at that point because developing the map is not a hard thing that's that's >> I guess I'm asking is it worthwhile for them profitwise to have exclusive rights to those eight lots to build the homes. Is there enough profit in the building of
the home? Sure. That they can forego the >> profit of selling the lot or potentially >> Yeah, I see. >> cutting the lot lot cost down to get that home builder in, right? The buyer who builds >> in. Yeah, that is a good question.
>> And the remediation I feel like is going to be the you know of those lots because there will need to be remediation done. When you say about pulling out oil or pulling out a lot of the earth because it's full of poop and and bringing in black dirt to fill it in.
>> Well, it's a it's not a solids field. The solids were in the tanks. Those are gone. But everybody thought of an organic farm doesn't even make sense. No, no, it it was a >> liquids. It was a liquids drain field. Okay. So
>> So, >> but that stuff has to come out still. There's still black pipe down there. There's still probably drain rock material that's in there, all that stuff still has to come out. >> Um, so the cost of doing that, but is
that even worthwhile to approach somebody who wants to >> I think I think >> take exclusive building rights, >> right? I I think having Kurt or Kurt or Kurt having having Majestic Holmes come in and and just ask those questions to him, he'll be better than I would be or
or even Carl, he's done that many times, developed it and would be real. He's just an open guy. he'll he'll tell us the truth. Is it does it make any sense for you to pair with us? You know, having that exclusivity, like you said, as the carrot to dangle, that's pretty valuable because I I think, you know, if you know you're going to build eight houses, uh you know, you're going to
you're going to have some other potential income there. But there's definitely >> Joe P has kind of shared with us too how he would how that he would do, you know, what he would do for suggesting you like basement, you know, remove the top four, something like that,
>> where you're digging. Um could you do u also could do limited or soil testing just to make sure everything is okay. There are some pipes that have to come out. >> I I would assume that soil testing would be a standard part of the process and then as far as the what you're saying
>> make sure it's done right. So >> it can be developed. Let's just >> Right. And and do you need to you know scrape out the dirt from all eight lots before you sell the lots or can you just split the eight lots and say you're each responsible for scraping out and bringing in your dirt. as part of the cost for for redevelopment. Now, that's
all, you know, >> I would say the cost would be beneficial to do it at once. Right. >> Right. It seems that way for sure. Yeah. We'd have to we'd have to uh ask a lot more questions about the dollars and cents and and Craig would openly answer those questions for us in addition to tell us hopefully a better idea of what he would be willing to pay if we just
sold it to him. Oh, I was this piece of property that you talk about the 8 acres or whatever it happens to be dividing up every house you talk about when you talk about the city being involved makes sense to me
to have a developer come in and you put town houses up there. Number one, your roads are very limited. If you look at the town houses, things that people drive in, so the roadway, the structure that go into that is less roadway. It's one deed. It's in other words, as they start to split up these town houses,
it's an association. You have more control of the association, what they build, how they build it, as you're talking about to bring up to the standards that kind of blends with your neighborhood. It is a green space and most likely that you'll see a lot of town houses uh that are
built on slab on grade and whatever that they do that way. There's more green space around the whole place, which gives it's not a house and a lot. this guy wants this tree or whatever. The association puts stuff in, has more control. One person comes in, buys the
deed for it, clears the land off of it. There isn't dividing and all the surveying, dividing everything up, and then now the roads go here, and I got to put the sewer here. The sewer comes in one way and and and I don't know how they do it in Rochester, how why they did it that way, but an awful lot of
them. They put the blue sign up and they're private. And so the snow plowing falls on the association to plow all their roadways. The sewer comes in, the water comes in, the city does that >> knows that. That's what they do on it was his flying. >> What I'm just saying is you'll see those
blue signs when you see the blue sign. The city street is a private situation where the people do their own snow removal and then the city isn't on the cuff to say now how I'm going to get in there to plow or do whatever the association. But I've always saw the
pieces of property even that over across where they have it, you have more control. One developer put it in four or five eight town houses. You got all that green space around it. The plantings are controlled by the association
and everything else and everything. In other words, it's got to be maintained >> into into a into a nice thing. you when you drive around Rochester, you go to Stone Edge, you go to these different places, they've been up for 15, 20 years, they look as good today as when they put them up. And that's control of
what you got versus if he comes in, as you say, one person comes in and he does eight lots. You got you got a mess all the time, the streets, and nothing's ever finished until the last black top goes on till the last street's done. If a person comes in and said, "We'll
develop a townhouse community here. The resale value is because a lot of people buying the town houses are usually elderly coming in and they're later in life like Ry and myself and 7." What my point being is that maybe you
got another 15 years if you're lucky and you're moving and and and you're turning. Well, it's life. >> I'm just saying is it is what it is. You move into it and they moves out >> and you have value there and the tax
base comes up. Your sewer, you get your sewer, you get your water, you get everything else. The one line comes in, feeds that whole operation versus I need to dig eight different lots, eight different things going in. >> Aren't it zone though for just individual homes out there? >> Yeah, it's our lot.
>> R1 there. Again, you can always go to the council and say, you know what, we like a variance on this or to do what we're doing to appease the neighborhood. I'm just telling you that is how you have control of what uh I built my I want control that I want where I bought in
the neighborhood I bought that next thing you know a guy is putting a trailer house >> next door to you because it's someone says it's a manufactured home when it's not. It's a it's a house. So I'm curious, Adam, you mentioned >> I guess just just my thought process is to do that. You can always come to the
city council, they can always grant variances and that would be a plus up for you guys to have to do this. >> I would say it's a plus up as far as potentially increasing the density of housing in that neighborhood. But but uh I as the River Park guy, put my River
Park owner guy hat on, I don't want to see town houses there because I I again the continuity to me is valuable. Driving in and out of the neighborhood and feeling the same. >> Well, you you could have you could have if it was strictly about tax basis town houses, you you could you could get more
tax money out of that. I guess I guess for me it feels more like a single family. You know, there's not a lot of lots there. Another eight houses into a huge thing. Um and increasing the density, but going townhouse is now you got a lot more traffic inside the neighborhood. I I don't love the idea of going townhouse versus single family
home. But but again, it's just like everything else. uh a lot of questions to ask and answer and identify what's what's best for in this case the city as a EDA cat where I'm thinking what's best for the city >> right because you lock yourself in one builder one thing >> but you know we've got we when we were
looking to buy in in Oronokco it was hard and we looked in River Park and we kept looking in River Park for 5 years very few things come open because it is a very popular place to live it's a nice neighborhood there's young people there's old people there's you know it's
just is safe >> and those those to me are >> those houses sell. I mean, if there would have been a house that would have been right for Steve and I, we would have bought there, but nothing came available during that >> and we speaking to now to me as the realtor hat is uh maximum proceeds,
right? Uh I think that it's a very desirable neighborhood. I love it there and and so I don't think you have any trouble selling lots. if we chose to sell them, subdivide them ourselves, and and not pass that middleman off onto the developer, uh potentially it wouldn't take that long to sell eight lots because they're highly in demand right
now. And and part of why Majestic's coming to the city through Totter, however that originated, uh you know, Lenard just came to Rochester and bought up a lot of the remaining lots. And this is what Majestic has done for decades is buy a subdivision that's failed, chop it up myself, develop it with affordable
homes, and and and go go. So, they would do a great job at it. Um, but I think that we would be remiss to just, yes, it'll be easier to sell it to the developer, but if we can sell it to the developer for, you know, $600, if we can put a couple hundred,000 in our pocket
in the funds in order to to by doing it ourselves, I think it's worth exploration because I think the lots will kind of sell themselves once they're chopped up and on the MLS. >> Okay. Well, good discussion. I I think all that >> the one thing about you know we'd be putting if if it was to happen we'd be
fighting needing to put R2 surrounded by R1 and that spot zoning may be very difficult for council to accept the customer or residents input into that but that's >> yeah you know it's worthy of a
discussion thanks for bringing it up so all right um November meeting Yeah, I am not able to make the 25th. I was wondering if we could possibly move that to the 24th, which would be the Monday before. There's nothing going on
in the city that day. I mean, in here, so this is open. If that's a possibility, it' be great. My daughter has a game state that day. So, >> so what are you suggesting or I'm
suggesting moving the meeting from the 25th to the 24th? >> 6:30. >> 6:30. If that's okay with everybody, that just be the Monday. Usually on Tuesdays, that would be on Monday. >> It's uh if it doesn't >> open for me. So,
>> is it the Monday of Thanksgiving week? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I can't make 6:30 video and do do it without me or I can make 5:30. Yes. Right. Can we do 5:30 on Monday the 24th?
>> Is that a possibility? >> All right. I'm putting input, too. >> Yep. >> So, the 24th at 5:30 and I will send out numerous reminders. >> Thank you, everybody. That was great. >> And you'll let uh Rachel
>> Yeah, I'll let them know for sure. And I'll let Jason know. Um, you know, I as a on a personal note when we enter basketball season, I have two girls that play college basketball. So the they shouldn't because they don't play high school anymore. So it's not
Tuesdays because high school season will be so it should be okay. But that could be a possibility in the next three months as of December, January, February. >> Fluid situation. >> Yeah, it's pretty awesome, but it's also crazy. >> Where do they play? >> Uh, my youngest daughter plays at St.
Cloud and my oldest daughter is a Jay-Hawk at the University of Kansas. >> Nice. >> Kansas. >> You guys are getting division one. >> Yeah, she played for Indiana last three years and transferred to Kansas. >> That's awesome. >> Yeah, she played in three NCAA tournament. It's okay. >> She's been doing really well. >> Good for you. >> My son was a golfer last year. >> Nice.
>> It was a walk-on on the golfers. So, >> didn't get any of that from you though. >> I was going to say the genetics I'm guessing you wear a size 16 or 18 shoe there. Genetics helps help. It's >> a fun. We've our winters have been >> busy >> busy >> busy, but they're they're fun.
>> Yeah, it's fun busy. So, I appreciate everybody on that. Thank you. >> So, how's the networking going? >> Networking. I've talked to Glenn's Motor Coach uh this week. Just got a information from them. camping world. Uh
speaking of business is going very well for all the owner of the gas and go, but the gas and go sign has been shut off recently >> and the gas has not been available. >> They don't know why because when I I spoke to them earlier, >> they still have cheese curds. >> My cheese
last Saturday morning. Uh, I need a couple batteries for my trail camera right here. >> And the guy was sleeping. >> Amazing story there. >> He was sleeping at the counter. >> They do that. >> I had to wake him up. I said 8:00 in the morning sleeping. And I woke him up. I
said, >> just walked out. >> Just out of curiosity. I said, >> "How many people have left here while you were sleeping here?" >> And I said, "See, I got no gas either." I said, >> "So that's why the sign's not on." You know what I mean? >> I don't know why they don't have >> because it's a new owner.
>> Is that it? If it's a new owner and they got they got to come up with the credits and the guy behind the counter told me the holster I need to do. I need to go. >> He told you need to go to Casey's a specialist. >> No, I need to go to Casey. The guy sleep behind the thing. No gas, no nothing.
>> He told me everything about how that business is being run. >> Yeah. What's the plan? >> What's the plan? >> I don't know. >> Do we don't have any more information on that? >> Was he awake when you were there? >> Yeah, there was. I dropped my cart off
and just introduced myself. >> Foreigners careful verbage, >> huh? >> You got to be careful with that verbage, Jan. >> Yeah, whatever. >> 26, bro. No kidding. >> He needs the way it is. >> I know.
Therefore, am I telling the truth? >> Yep. >> Sure. Fair. >> Okay. >> I didn't say anything other than that. >> And the other three are the people that were in the meeting, >> but I met Joe Palin, so that was good. Has anybody got any news on the green thing? >> It's all been approved.
>> Pretty sure >> all the permits, the variances. >> These are the things people in the community ask me when I tell my mom. >> Yeah. No, approved >> and they're still working on it. >> Yeah, he's still working. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I saw that. They're probably 20 26
someplace, but yeah, >> got his last council, so he can move for work now. He's going to be transitioning indoor work. So you may or may not see >> what's going on. >> But >> I think they projected to open up this fall or something and that's what people
are >> Yeah. I don't think >> uh Shades of Green which is the >> Is that still what it's called? Or >> Shades of Green. Is that still what it's called? >> Used to be in Rochester. >> No. >> Yeah. The retail store. The front's
shades of green and then the back is going to be >> pub and beastro or something. >> Oh yeah. >> And that's by the post office and front of the church. He's he's doing construction now. He got variances to move
>> people. I think >> we'll make a motion to adjourn. >> It'd be nice and parking lot will be on the south side. I second >> I >> 737. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
anxious.