This conference will now be recorded. >> Two additions you can see number seven letter C and number eight letter C as well. So move possible application for letter C 7
C 8 C and Bob's going to talk a little bit about the chamber possibility of the chamber. >> Motion to approve the updated agenda. I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion's passed.
Um, regular meeting minutes from September. There was no October meeting. I'll make a motion to approve the regular minutes from the September 17th meeting. >> All in favor?
>> I opposed. Motion's passed. Financial report and accounts payable. See there's nothing. >> Um my question do we have since there was no October meeting do we have to approve two months worth of financials
or just one >> so I can bring the >> we'll need September >> to the next meeting. All right. I Randa was supposed to remind me of that. I did not.
>> Thanks a lot, Randa. >> I'll make a motion we accept the monthly cash sheet for October 31st. >> I'll second. All >> in favor? >> I opposed. Motion's passed. No public hearings. We'll go to old
business A. Tulip Tree Marketing. Yeah, as you can see, we've got some examples of the marketing that 203 has put on Facebook. You've seen them yourself uh through the month of September. There's a number of views for each one. And then recently on our third page of our
memorandum here, we have it kind of uh divided into who's looking at it. So, if you go all the way to the end, you can see the different advertisements that they put out. And so, in October,
you know, at 3,000 views, what date was this on that first date, which was the 28th, uh, one net follower, which means they will follow city of Zimrod all the time. It breaks it down by genders. You can
see in this little section here we're looking at you can see a majority of the people looking at it are uh women which is okay and the ages and then the lower post here was from
October 5th. You can see over 7,000 views and majority of them were uh ladies I would have to say ladies over the age of 65. But they really do a good job of promoting the city.
And our contract will be coming to an end here, I believe, in December with them. >> December. >> Yeah, the end of December, I believe. So, they'll, you know, they're shop the block and they'll do a lot with Christmas and Zroa, things like that.
It was it was interesting that Connie uh just two nights ago I think said uh who's doing this. She didn't know any of the details and I don't know that they needed to know but you know Zeba for example thought maybe somebody from the
city hall was doing it and they she liked it just didn't know where it was coming from. So I don't know if it matters. Maybe we could have told people but no big deal. I think this is getting the word out
better than the billboard did. >> I think it is would be >> Oh, the billboard is seen by a lot of people, but what kind of an impact? >> Yeah. Could they >> Yeah. Did they >> Did that drive anybody?
>> Okay. Um, a question. So, like it's pretty obvious that like 65 plus women see it. Are they okay and again I I don't Are they the do a lot of that age do they come into town and shop or do we
know the family? >> I think it's safe to say on weekends a large contingent of we might ask Kanye to do >> large contingent of women over the age of 65 that do a lot of shopping in the proto. >> So then maybe it's touching one of our key groups.
>> Well, I'm nervous that >> we're only gaining one follower. two followers. Yeah. So, >> I'm thinking that most of these people are current some residents
>> um that aren't necessarily >> good >> new people viewing our page, but people who have always been viewing our page >> since we did not create the specific tourism page. >> I think it's primarily local
>> people. Do did they ever consider something like a lot of times like you'll see like I saw a friend of mine she's a realer and they were doing something for Christmas tree and so she's like hey like share you know like it share it and then you get into the
drawing. Did does this group do anything like that that might be able to get us more followers or more? >> I mean don't remember them not saying it. If their contract ends in December, do we want them to come to the next meeting
and do we have a meeting in December? >> Yeah. >> To come to the meeting and just kind of summarize this and their opinion >> to look >> the impact and >> yeah are we similar to other communities >> worth considering continuing you know I don't know
>> and what was the dollar? >> Yeah. So I think that if you want to expand who is seeing it, >> Yeah. >> then we should not have posts on our regular Facebook page. I think we should
pay for ads >> so that based off your interest and things that you've looked at on Facebook or talked about out loud, >> it'll just randomly pop up in your feed. Whereas like I feel like our stuff maybe
isn't randomly pushed out as far. Like I see ads on my Facebook all the time like they'll say sponsored on it >> which means that it's not like an actual post. It's randomly put places from on Facebook.
I don't know if this company does that. If they would be that avenue, you want to go through from that or thought we were supposed to get a couple of those included in our package. >> And Right. But it wasn't very many. Right.
>> Right. And I don't I think even two, but >> and if they did those I would I mean they have access to our Facebook page. So if they just show me how to >> Well, I'm wondering if it's this one this one with almost 5,000 views and
this one with 4,000 views because the other ones don't even hold a candle to that. >> Well, they're all they're all on our Facebook page, >> right? But you can boost specific posts, >> right? Is that >> to make them sponsored or
>> is that how you do the ads? >> I think so. It cost you money to do that. >> Well, you were paying for these guys to do this. >> And I don't know how do you tell if it's been boosted though. >> Right. Right. >> Like you said, maybe >> that would be a good question to ask
them. >> Yeah. >> I'll have them come to our meeting in December. I'll send some questions before that obviously. >> Yeah. Have you have we got any feedback that it's the city of Zimroda page and
we're promoting a lot of tourism >> on the same page is like hey remember member city water and sewer you can sign up electronically. >> I I think the the thing that you >> no feedback >> I think the thing that you have to remember too and I've seen this in other
areas Habitat uses Facebook. We haven't used Instagram, which is the same company, >> Meta. >> Um, older people tend to follow Facebook. Instagram is more young people. So, that may influence who's
seeing it more than anything. If we could expand this to Instagram, if you want to appeal to the younger folks, it might be helpful. But we can ask that, too. If there's no further discussion, we can
move on to part B update from Touts Trucking. >> Yeah, this is from October. We didn't have, but I spoke to Dennis and Doug and it just turns out that the land will not work for what they want it for. They spent a lot of
money to have it, you know, a plan engineered for them uh by GQ, by a guy named Jeff Griffin. And it turns out like, uh, if they want to put anything on the, you know, the lot in front of the water filtration, that still needs a
water retention pond, even if they put a a parking lot for trailers, and that takes up a decent amount of land. So, honestly, Dennis or Doug offered me offered $10,000 for that lot. And I
didn't mean to laugh, but we're asking $98,000 for it. And he was kind of jokingly and then uh Dennis called back and apologized for that. And we let them park those trailers there as kind of a good faith offering to them. And once
they found out they couldn't use it, I asked them to remove the trailers and they did. So the reason why this is not going through is the size of the lot would not work for their their plans for that lot >> is remind me is the west side of that uh
street if you will the same is that all one lot both the west and the east side of the street where the street cuts through it. know the two separate lots two separate lots and they wanted to buy both >> and the west side was not big >> right and after they did the >> yeah yeah it wouldn't work for their
operation they want to put in there >> we find that like history on that lot like how who agreed to split it for water filters or why was there never a retention pot put in in the first place who agreed to the easement of a road straight through the lot
>> like all of those things that really are just kind of putting us in a really bad spot lot >> as the owner of that lot >> not part of the development agreement >> so the easement can be moved uh there is a we were talking about this earlier there is a retention pond behind between
the water filtration and the road so like if water filtration bought that lot could they just use that water retention pond back there and then maybe rent that out that's information I don't know on that but yeah we looked at that too because that easement goes right through
But it can be moved because it's not part of the development agreement. I think honestly it was probably put in because it was just they bought that lot. It's the easiest way to do it, >> right? But like how did we come to that? Like I assume it was one lot at one point in time. >> Yeah.
>> For sale and then water filters wanted it but only half of it. So like was that retention pond on the back side of their property part of this lot? But why would we need two then? Yeah. Why? >> I don't remember. This was before my
time on board. >> Why couldn't they use that then for a retention pond? >> Yeah, that that would be my question. Why just because that lot would be owned by somebody else, why do they need a separate retention pond?
>> I think a lot is the the flow of the water. right now. >> Mhm. >> If it rains on the, you know, the front the street side of that lot, there's a good chance that water's not going to flow all the way to the back. I'm assuming. I don't know. Uh, but yeah,
>> I I don't know that the regulations didn't change. It's not too many years ago either where you you can't really have any runoff water. You got to be able to control it. And >> maybe it's changed enough where it's a problem. I don't know.
Yeah, they were. >> It's a mess for us now. >> It is. Yeah. >> I mean, the west side lot, I could see selling that to somebody. How big was that again? Two acres. >> Yeah, two and a half acres. >> But that little chunk on the east side
of the street is going to be a problem. >> I was hoping they'd offer something. >> What were they offering? 10,000 for the the whole thing or just the >> just the water filtration side? Just that chunk of land in front of water water filtration. >> What did we want for the two and a half
acres? >> Two and a half acres is $180,000. No one didn't. >> Maybe it's worth getting rid of it for 10,000 if they'll put a pond on it. >> Well, I don't know if
>> clear bank wants to be out there or not, but >> that's a possibility, too. Was >> if that lot's on that small one. >> Yep. Yeah. They'll still have run off issues, >> like a swap of some kind with
>> Yeah, it's not as intuitive issues. >> Okay. As far as your question, um, >> financing wise, you >> Yeah, you >> get away with all the way. >> Yeah, you could. >> We can sell them. We can sell it to them
for whatever we want. >> Yeah. >> Okay. because they're the key there is what's the value of the building that's going to be on there not necessarily what the land value >> from a tax standpoint and those types of things
>> beneficial for >> you mean the small piece >> yeah small chunk >> well the the point for me is what else are we going to do with it >> I mean if water filtration doesn't want it >> have they >> we're just going to sit on it
>> you I called them two years ago was trying to gauge your interest and they weren't interested at that time in it. Maybe I give them a call back and say, "Hey, >> the road has to stay there." >> No, the road can be moved. Well, you just need an easement back. You need a
way back there. >> But if they would control all that, >> yeah, they if somebody else buys a lot, then they're at the mercy of whoever decides to buy that lot. But they have to give them access back to the
property. >> Again, the thing is the land on the farm side farm right there. >> So that land goes >> into that farm. So there's this big berm here which is which you can't really do
anything with. So that that plays into it as well. I think I think one thing that's worth investigating is just what you were saying is um and maybe G cubed that developer or that engineer maybe he could help answer that question is could
the existing pond on that acreage where water filtration is be used to satisfy it even if it was updated and made a little bigger or something. >> Um because it's a it's a property. We got to figure that out one way or another because no matter who buys it,
we got an issue. >> So, >> and once you find that out, then you can maybe offer it up to water filters and to couts and say who wants it and make a bid.
>> And Midwest Fabrication's right there, too. Just seems to me, you know, if you could get 180 for the two and a half acres and you could sell the other piece for 10,000 and be done with it. To me, it's otherwise we're just going to sit on it forever.
>> And if there is no other discussion, we will move on to part C, old business, open seat. So, we have open seat and we'll have two open seats eventually when Brian's done. Um, and I'm going to table this because we'll talk about it uh on
letter C on new business because we got a citizen who put an application in for one of the for Tina's spot. That's all right. >> Um, then let's move on to new business part A daycare meeting. Yeah, we had a
pretty exciting meeting with uh the owner of Mini Knees Childc Care in Redwing. Her name is Sarah Lean. She and her associate came down here Monday morning and Brian and I met her out at the Zimroa Health Services in the basement. They've been trying to get
that into a daycare center. Um and I've been on the phone with numerous people. I did not call many me, but she called me saying, "Hey, you are trying to get a daycare center." So she's curious about childc care needs. It's umbrella. And so
we t she toured it, really liked it. She toured the old school as well and really liked that as well. And she her her vision is if she can get in here, she doesn't really want to rent. She wants to buy a place. So obviously that would be the best for her.
to get started in that spot and then purchase the school and make that into a a daycare preschool for some which it's one of our goals as the EDA is to get a a daycare center going in there which would be very beneficial. We
even spoke about uh you know if it's in that spot it's right across from the high school u PSO classes where kids could go come over there and work for credit um where so when they're done with school if they want to go into child care they'll have kind of a a head
start. So, she's spoken to the reality growth about the old school building. Um, I revealed to her that we as an EDA have numerous, you know, low interest loans and we'll do what we can to help her and she was very receptive to all of it. So,
I've sent her demographic information from First Children's Finance and so we'll kind of way from there. It was a very It was a very It was kind of exciting meeting and I'm not getting terribly excited because I I've had this meeting three years ago where I had a
group like we're coming in there Kirk I don't think we need to talk to you anymore. Okay, great. And then they disappeared like something happened. So we'll I'll stick with it. Stick with mini me. And I like the name mini me. It's like Austin Powers. So that's
pretty cool. you have any idea the impact of that Wamingo one opening >> and she was we shared with her that that was opening as well and >> yeah I couldn't take the impact of that one
>> what are the needs in Zimro what do we know about daycare >> I don't know for sure last time study was done it it was more infant to toddler >> yeah than it was because the school
>> y >> really is >> and they've expanded since centers will start taking kids at 33 months including cougar care and uh the school >> infants well needed
>> what did she say she specializes in >> well she does it all she's infants up through yeah so >> uh and hers is kind of unique as well she's trying to start a daycare where you don't pay like from 7:00 in the morning to 4 in the evening every Monday
through Friday. If you need to be there on Tuesdays for four hours and you're not there Wednesdays, you just paid for those four hours, >> which sounds crazy to me because you don't think >> nightmare, but if she can pull it off, I think she would be hugely successful
because nobody wants to pay for something when you're not there. >> So, she's doing a rip and >> Yeah. So her and her associate, they were really fired up. Daycare impact. We Yeah, we did a study with First
Children's Finance in 2023 and it stated the need for just like Brian said, for young uh kids in cribs. Don't Yeah, I see she's in in Redwing. She's
kind of across from McDonald's behind the Merchants Bank. I don't know anything about them >> and she you know and with the growth of if this whole thing goes on in in Pine Island with the data center and thing
that they're kind of looking at we as a city will be affected by that quite greatly because a lot of people will live in Zroa and then work in Pine Island and a lot of people will move out of Pine Island because they just won't want to be around that.
So with young families, it'll be yeah, it'll be well sought after. So keep my fingers crossed and go from there. >> Um, no other discussion. We'll move on to part B. Clarence. >> All right,
>> Clarence Bishop, if you remember in March, I believe Clarence Bishop had this idea of a raising walleye and trout. Uh, and he I'm just a little hesitant with Clarence because he's got a lot of he does have a
lot of connections, you know, loans a lot of people. He's got a lot of big investors. His latest investor couldn't make the meeting because he was in the United Arab Emirates for 15 days, which I know a lot of you guys go there. But on Monday, I met with him. Uh Brian,
Representative Pam Altonorf was down. Uh and Eric Lman. So Eric Lman owns land. You can see on this the map on the next page owns that land which is up by the cold storage. >> Yeah, he owns the well he actually owns all this but this is the part that's
annexed in by the city. So the only part that actually would work for Clarence as of right now is that section annexed by the city. >> Okay. >> So she's looking >> the shaded area. >> Yeah, the shades. Um and we could annex, you know, that could come into play
later. Um, so we met with him. He's got big ideas. So he and Eric went to look at the land and Eric made an offer and I think Eric made an offer that was pretty high because Clarence I couldn't believe that offer. I don't know what the offer
was. Um, but he still has the possibility of buying a section of that land. So that would create if it's like it's called the aquaculture hydrophonoponics hydro something dealing with water and
fish. So a lot of questions are is it going to cause pollution? Well the water that they need for this place is has to come from a well they can't use chlorinated water. So one of our ordinances is that you can't if you're in the city you have to hook up to city water. So that would be a variance that he would have to go through if that's a
possibility to get well water. And then maybe the rest of his like the bathrooms on there could be hooked up to city water. These are, you know, possibilities. Um he's looking for 25 to 50 acres of land. You know, like I said, he met with Eric. Uh
the price at this point was too high, but he's got numerous investors and so he'll he'll be back. He's really fired up about Zumbroa. um really fired up about being out there. >> Why? >> It's big enough and it's out away from the city. Uh there's not a big smell. I
think a lot of people would think that. I think if you go in there, it's probably pretty funky, but it it doesn't re resonate around the area. There is one, if you remember when we talked about this earlier, there's one in Hickston, Wisconsin. Um >> is there another property owner that we
could direct him to? Well, they're all outside city limits. >> But I you Okay. So, we want him in city limits or we want him >> Well, the only ones we can deal with >> are we Eric has got >> Yeah. So, if he could work out with um
if he finds land outside the city, you know, and he'll just have to work with the township out there and that that'd be fantastic. Um but it's a whole thing. I mean, you raise fish. The fish swim and go to the bathroom in the water. They take that
water and they throw it on some crops. Crops are used to raise food for the fish. And it's Yeah, it's interesting. >> Is this other one inside of city limits or is that out? >> It's outside. >> It is outside. >> Does he own the one in Hickston?
>> No, he does not. But that's an example of that. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> He doesn't. This is what he's starting is Bluewater Farms >> walleye. He hasn't yet. And what's unique is a walleye is obviously a predatory fish. So yeah, you gota you can't just feed it
fish food, but they know I think they're talking meal worms. Yeah, >> just take a pinch of flakes and drop it in there for you. >> You can put your finger in there and pull out a stump. Uh but he's uh yeah, he's part of like I had the
representative come. Pam Aldenorf came from Redwing and she didn't know anything about this and so she was kind of looking around like what are we talking about? It's like, yeah, but he's he's fired up. So, keep that on your radar. And once I hear anything more about it,
>> why does he want to be in the city? >> Well, he's talking to us because we direct him towards land in the city. That's why this land here was really the only land and city limits. Uh, I don't know if he wants to be in
the city, but now he's got a contact with Eric Wman, so hopefully >> Yeah, they can figure something out. Yeah, >> I know what's annexed, right? >> Yeah, >> he's got stuff. >> He's got plenty to me. >> Well, that's why I said,
>> but like >> we can only really help him deal with >> Exactly. >> city within city. >> And I think he's also looking for help for funding. >> That's the key. He had some issues with that in Redwing and
Canon Falls, some colleagues of mine. So, >> have you talked to anybody to get some background or >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And so, he's like you said, he had a lot of ideas, but there was no funding. He's looking for funding from the community. So, if they're outside
limits, obviously we can't provide any funding. >> Okay. >> That was an interesting meeting, that's for sure. is working with good county EDA even as well. >> Yeah. >> Part C. >> All right. I think the last page in your
packet, we have an application from Victoria Perez who lives on 1055 East Avenue. Uh, and she applied to be on the EDA. I emailed her and said I'd bring her name
to the EDA and I'll be in contact with her later this week. So it says she moved to Zumbro about two years ago and since I've been looking for meaningful ways get more involved in the community, make connections, learn how the city grows and thrives, serving the economic development authority board would be a
great opportunity to do that while contributing to something that is directly impacts local business and residents. So, I guess my question is um do
do we bring in her to interview or do we bring her to the next meeting to say congratulations, you're on the EDA? >> What are our qualifications must not be too high because I got on the committee. But >> what are the qualifications for a
>> live in the city limits as road? >> That's it. Okay, >> I think so. Yeah. >> Do we look for do we look for different uh types of backgrounds to help
help us get >> Yeah, that'd be great. Uh >> but we don't have that qualification either >> if we Yeah, luxury. >> Yeah, I I have nothing against her. I don't even know her either. I'm just wondering.
>> So, I could have her come to the December meeting and just I could have, you know, a couple questions ready for we give her a very short interview to find out who she is. >> Well, if she could give us a short resume, just a little synopsis of her background would be interesting at
least. >> And then we could uh >> really say no, can you? >> No, probably not. we've got a spot open like >> I would say >> say welcome to the board. Yep. We should
grab it. >> But I think I think you can still ask for like a brief, >> you know, background or experience or something like that. But I Yeah, I don't I think it's forego that >> Yeah, she's not competing against
anybody for an open seat. So >> neither are we by >> Well, you guys >> by the council. Okay. >> But I think there's quite a few openings on quite a few boards. I think I think every board two >> has at least one opening, right? >> Really?
>> Yeah. So, I mean, it's like if this lady wants to do it, >> I'll tell you, she also applied for so >> Oh, so now we're gonna fight over. >> They'll probably approve her. So, >> it's like now we're gonna fight over. >> Great.
>> Does she have a preference as to which one >> also? >> I haven't talked to her. >> Okay. >> Serve on both. We should know if you could or not. >> If you can. >> Yeah. >> So, I'll I'll put up some questions and I'll email and have her answer those and
I can email them to you as a board >> separately and get an idea and then I'll just have her come to the next meeting. Is that that's all right? >> Yeah. >> A little anoint >> idea of being sworn in. >> Yeah. >> That's true.
>> Good point. And you referred to me being done. My commitment is a few more years on the 12-year commitment >> because you're done on >> You retired. >> I retired from the bank.
>> But you're going to stay on the EDA. >> I'll stay in the EDA until another candidate. >> Technically, you're on. >> He's He's He'd just like to stay on. >> No. No new candidates. >> Stay on till December 31st of 2028. See, >> that's when you're
>> and that's when this uh >> I must be 29. >> Victoria Victoria her she would last until the same as well. 123128 >> Okay, that's good. I'm trying to say if
somebody else is interested. not saying he's sticking. >> I'm not going to leave you hanging. >> Thank you. >> That's good. >> So, she would take Tina's spot. >> Great. >> Yeah. So, I'll do that. I'll I'll type up a Tina
>> little biography or have her type a little biography. I'll send it to you guys so you can see and I'll invite her to a next meeting. >> Yes. Excellent. Okay. under reports. A Bridget's Cafe. >> So, Bridget's retiring at the end of the
year. I think she's threatened to retire several times before, but this one's legit. Uh I went and met with her and she one of her workers is looking at taking over the business. I believe her name is Annie
and I gave her my card information. or if you need help from ADA to let us know because obviously restaurants very important for the city of Zimroda with our lack of restaurants. So hopefully it'll keep it going.
But yeah, she's going to be done at December at the end of December. >> Okay. >> Uh part B update KB Apartments. gave me the apartments as you saw today if you drove by. They took the ATM machine
away. >> They just backed in >> sold it on auction. >> They really >> they did. >> I'm pretty sure cuz Jake and Sue were joking about bid. >> Oh, is that who came and got it were the people that bought it? >> Better not came and got it. The people
that bought it like the whole building. >> That explains so much more. If it's just the people that bought it that came and took it out and explained the whole trailer. >> Yeah. >> They hooked straps to it, >> pulled it forward, knocked it on the
trailer, took off. They were in the street for a half hour. >> That explained so much. >> What the hell are they doing? >> Pay these people. >> It was It was auction. >> I hope they don't I hope they don't drain people.
WHEN YOU go back >> just like you done it before taking it on ATM. No big deal. >> Oh dear. Oh dear. >> No, it was unreal. >> So yeah, that's the election starts December 1st
>> or they don't have heard of the ATM now. So, >> it's your place. >> I've had a couple people and I' I haven't been able to get in front of Ken Bartman. Can't remember his first
>> Andy. Haven't been able to get in front of him to put this bug in his ear, but maybe you can. Um, some people have said, "Wouldn't it be neat if there was a time and temperature clock incorporated into the buildings, the new building, like there was for the bank?
Okay. >> So, >> a little >> who bought the thermometer and can it go to the historical society so that we can still get the time in town. >> So, that would
be that might be a little nice tie in that >> historical societ door, but I don't know how they would ever use that in their building. So, sounds like that's for sale. So >> before you come and get I guess you just go >> Oh, really?
>> Nice. >> Behind the door. >> There you go. >> It's your office door. >> Yes. >> Yeah. So that's getting in the development agreement. Miles has been working on and is currently still working on that.
demolition. You will start to see demolition. Yeah. December 1st. More than the ATM machine. That was just cool how they took that thing out of there. >> Try to claim dibs on the three trees, too. And >> Jake told me you are not digging those trees out.
>> You should go up. >> No, I'm not going to sell them and plant them. >> Yeah, we could use one of those in our backyard. Pete, >> you get a tree spade and >> Yeah, dig it right out of there. >> Yeah, I'm sure. Sure. They wouldn't mind. >> Okay, that's it on Katie Apartments.
>> Yep. >> And then on to Bob. >> Yep. Bob has some information on the chamber. >> Yeah, I guess I want some feedback and and uh try to determine what to do next with this. It's not something I feel like a chamber would be good. How come
this echoes so much? You can slide it away from me a little bit. >> Um, I think a chamber would be good for Zroa and you know, Cannon Falls, Pine Island, Redwing, Lake City, they all
have chambers. Um, Zea is stepping back. they're just going to get back to their roots and they're just going to have fun uh with retail downtown instead of having a organized group. Um but and I'm
as I told Kurt, I'm willing to help pursue the chamber thing a little bit if if there's interest. And that's the key is to determine if there's interest, I guess, is the first step. Um, I've talked to Jennifer Buyers uh from the chamber, the Minnesota
Chamber. I've u reached out to a a lady she recommend. Her name is Vicky Study who had been a chamber um u I guess leader, but now she runs a consulting group and she's willing to
help. also uh the former chamber director up at Canon Falls went to Northfield and she's now looking for a different position. So, she's got time if if we need somebody that's got chamber experience to uh help us. And I
guess my question is, are we thinking that it might be worth pursuing and uh putting some money behind having somebody come in and talk to our businesses and figure out if they're interested, somebody that knows the
business and can explain it to them. You know, a lot of these small chambers, and again, my my approach would be if I could recommend is just a a chamber that is I I guess
wants to promote Zambroa, but wants to have fun doing it and not be so rigid that there's something every week and you know, it just wears people out. You can't do that. You got to have it. You got to make it something that's enjoyable and people like working together and uh promote the whole
community. So, it's got to be done right. Probably would require a part-time director uh to do it properly. I think a budget of about 80,000 a year is probably what you're looking at from what I hear. And
there's chambers around us that we could learn a lot from. There's no way we want to be like Redwing. That's just they're just doing amazing things, but they're they've got a huge group. Lake City actually has about two or three
employees in their chamber, which is quite surprising. Pine Island I think is just a part-time and uh and Canada is just a part-time person. So, but to me I do not have the time to spend a lot of time going around
talking to people. I've got plenty on my plate. But I think if we wanted to get somebody that knows the business to talk to the folks in Zimroda and get some feedback and figure out if it's worthwhile
might be uh to me worth pursuing. >> We Bob you think it would it be beneficial to work with Zabel on this >> some roa area business leaders as well? >> Well I I'd keep them in forum but I I would keep it totally separate personally. I think the chamber has to
run its own. Uh the the Zro area business leaders I think are more interested in investing and helping people get businesses started. Um whereas the chamber is going to promote existing businesses and promote
hopefully all businesses but um and Zroa in general. Uh I just I I just don't see it being a good combination personally, but maybe other people feel differently. >> No, I I agree. Um I think you got to
have some sort of cooperation and communication between the two, but I don't know that. >> It's the same with Zeba. Zea would be, >> you know, they would join the chamber, but they could still work as a downtown group >> doing their little things and
>> Zel would be doing their things and the chamber would hopefully promote it all. But so and I don't think the dues would be that high for a small town chamber and there's probably some grants that would be available, but um I didn't want to
pursue it any further unless we felt we could support it. It may take a few thousand dollars just to get a good study done and have somebody go out and beat the bushes and see what people think. >> Oh, that was my question, too. like is
there like an educational orformational email or letter that could be sent out to businesses about what is a chamber and why we're pursuing it. >> I think we could I >> I have not wanted to go too far until I
knew that everybody was in agreement. >> So >> because I don't know if one of these consultants or or the gal that used to be in in Caner Falls would do that for us. maybe somebody to just our board and
>> confirm that that's something we want to go through with. >> The other question you said we need funding of about $80,000 and then my question was well how much of that is in dues from our >> exactly >> chamber. >> That's what we have. >> How much funding do you get from the state or the city for
>> a chamber things like that? >> Um >> does the city fund the chamber at all? Do they have >> um the city can give money to a chamber is what we decided when we were going through that with Zeba. We cannot give money to Zeba because they are not a
state or organization. Am I saying that correctly? Um but a chamber is recognized by the state. Yeah, they'd become a 501c3 or No, it's a 501c6 >> that they would organize as which I
don't know a lot about, but >> yeah, I would be great to stick the first step going and I would happily go out and advertise this to businesses >> like can you get those contacts from Bob
and then maybe reach out and see if they can would be willing to give us 15 minutes of their time at one of our meetings meeting >> just explain how a chamber works. >> Yeah, I can call them too and find out if they uh would be willing to consult
too. >> Yeah. >> You know, and then connect >> and I'm sure >> if there's a cost to that to having them come talk to us, is that something that we would have to >> Right. That's what I'm thinking. We may just to get it started, get the ball
rolling, we may want to invest some money in it. Uh just to >> bring somebody in. >> This is interested. It's almost like a launch. I'll show up for a >> because it it it really >> I mean we used to do that >> out at the covered bridge. There used to
be business large business gatherings from any business owners that wanted to come and eat and mingle and >> Yeah. Yeah, they used to have what we called, it wasn't a chamber of commerce, it was a commercial club when I first came to town and it was very active. Uh,
again, what you have to be careful of, I think, is I think the commercial club did the chicken barbecue if you remember that way back when it was on the bridge. When the bridge was out in the park, >> I served on it and worked on it. And the
problem is, you know, businesses, business owners are busy and, you know, they need help sometimes with working with other businesses, but to to get involved in too many things like chicken feed and pretty soon they burn out and
you're you're done. So that's what I think we got to be careful of going into it is just set it up right and you know let it let it be organic and take care of itself. I can reach out to them. I just wanted to make sure there was a little interest
in them and I could connect you. >> Yeah, that'd be great. All right, I'll do that. And we can probably get I'm sure the Cannon Falls Maggie up in Cannon Falls would share their budget and I'm sure the Pine Island people would. Um Lake City has
taken on a little different attitude. It's almost more like Redwing. They've got two or three people employed either part-time or I don't know if one of them I'm sure is full-time. So they're hitting it pretty hard. Um,
so I'm sure they'd share information about this. >> This is a little bit cart before the horse, but based on what I expect for attendance at the December meeting, maybe the dollars that we would be
investing to renew with the marketing company would be better served to help get a chamber started. >> Yep. So >> yeah, it could be part of the chamber role is to do that work >> right and or you know work with that
group down the road once the chamber gets going to maybe work with that group again to promote it. But at least for now >> you know because we are in that limited budget. Well, that's all I wanted tonight is
just that feedback and let's just connect and get some more information and see where it goes then. >> Is there anything else? >> I'm going to go sit at the bench >> tonight on TV. >> I'm going go sit on the bench by the old ATM machine and just reminisce.
>> Yeah. Do it. Go figure out who bought the thermometer so we can get it put up somewhere new. >> Has that been removed? >> That has that been removed? Yeah. >> Really?