The Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority (CHEDA) met on Tuesday afternoon at the Valley Technology Park.
After the Call to Order, the meeting began with the Board approving their meeting minutes from their last meeting on March 15.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda included approving the EDA Financials and the Crookston Jobs Loan Status and Financials. It also included the approval of the B3 Grants and Financials, the Financials for Prairie Skyline, and the Financials for Epitome Energy.
Next, it resolved a Revolving Loan Fund for Crookston Jobs and Loan Status and Financials. It also resolved Financials for Oak Court Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Workforce Housing, and Rehab Housing.
The final items on the Consent Agenda were to approve the CHEDA Payable Bills for a total of $237,782.74 and the Financials, Building Occupancy, and Expended Business Incubation of Valley Technology Park.
The Board approved all motions unanimously.
HOUSING REPORT
The Board then heard from Administrative Assistant Theresa Tahran on a Housing Report for their projects. She reported that some members still had to finish the Lead the Way Training and asked for those who had not completed it to do so. She then began a report on the Publicly Opened Housing Program (POHP) with an update on the maintenance completion of Oak Court Apartments’ plumbing and roofing. “On the plumbing project, we finalized the last payments for that.” said Administrative Assistant Theresa Tahran. “The roofing project will begin this spring as the Board did make a motion to approve the contract with Burns Construction and Remodeling not to exceed $38,500. So we should be starting with that soon.”
Tahran shared information about their Voucher Program to families that require rental assistance and reported they are going through the selection process and completing the paperwork with the families. She also noted that at the end of the process, if they have enough funds left over that don’t exceed what they’re receiving from HUD Apartments, they will then reach out to more families to make another selection.
Tahran finished her report with an update on the property on 1603 Hoven Lane, a construction site house where the Crookston High School’s Community Projects class worked on the house. She reported that it was very close to finished, with just a few things needing to be finished and maintained before it can be sold. Economic Development Director Robert Barnes reported that small things like cabinets and countertops and other amenities just need to be installed in order for it to be finished. Tahran noted that they would try to find another Workforce House that the School District could use for their courses once the students pick their courses for next year.
OLD BUSINESS
The Board heard from Crookston Economic Development Director Robert Barnes, who reported that they had not heard any recent updates on the Colborn Property Infrastructure or Epitome Energy. The Board went into a discussion about the water permits and Epitome’s water usage that they had discussed at their last meeting. They had not received any information from Epitome on their machinery and how much water they would need for their projects. “They’re still inspecting their machinery and supply need, so that number is still not solidified,” said Barnes. “But the first item that needs to be discussed is long-term water use for the community. The City Council is spot on with wanting to look at the long-term life with aquifers, our water supplies, and our water system, and that is a conversation I’m sure they will take forward.” Interim City Administrator Charles “Corky” Reynolds volunteered to make the issue an item to be discussed at a City Council Meeting sometime in June.
Barnes reported that the Chickadee Coffee/Heroes Rise building had been cleaned out and the property has been given back to the owner. However, despite selling the equipment and giving the property back, there is still an outstanding loan they have to pay. He reported that he was looking through Real Estate deals with “Corky” Reynolds to find ways that they could pay off the loan and will return to the Board with an update on the Snow Loans next meeting.
MAIN AGENDA
The board welcomed APG Development representative Elliot Steinbrink, who reported that he was working with legal issues but things were moving along well. Steinbrink came forward with a business subsidiary agreement for the Board, which included them moving a landfill that had been previously put on the site. Steinbrink explained that they were going to move the landfill to get them down to virgin soil for the building and have it be ready to begin production in the Spring of 2023. Barnes said that a public hearing would be needed on the property to transfer the property’s ownership from CHEDA to APG. The Board chose to set the Public Hearing for their next meeting in May.
The final item was the Sale of the house at 1603 Hoven Lane. Barnes reported that they are completing the last pieces of construction for the house and making sure the final sale figures are correct before selling it. “They have a closing date of April 29, so this is just housekeeping items that we needed to get done,” said Barnes. “We had to move the closing date to ensure the final figures are right because the purchaser has been making adjustments to the house. They’ve been putting in cabinets and countertops, and other amenities that they want. This is just some housekeeping to get the property closed and to the owner.”
The Board approved all motions unanimously.
The next CHEDA meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 17, at noon at the Valley Technology Park.
