4.1. SR 05-05-1997MEMORANDUM ITEM 4.1.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
The Elk River City Council
John Oliver and Bob Minton
Representatives of the Sherburne County Historical
May 5, 1997
Society
At this meeting, we are requesting from the City of Elk River a grant in the amount of
$36,000 for the Heritage Center Project as described in the attached prospectus.
The grant could be defrayed over three years, at $12,000 per year, or over five years at
$7,200 per year. We realize that this Council can not commit future councils to multi-year
grant proposals. However, once this process is started, we are also aware that we will
need to make a request each year.
A request is being submitted to each city and township in the County in proportion to its
population. Since this facility will have more economic advantage to the City of Becket,
the request to that City is for $150,000, in addition to the ten acres of land next to its
Community Center that Becker has already donated to the Society.
The Sherburne County Commissioners have also approved an initial grant of $100,000 for
the Heritage Center, which must be matched, in addition to the high percentage of
operating funds that the County grants to the Society on an annual basis.
We view this grant as a long term investment in the economic development and quality of
life of the entire County. With the Oliver Kelly farm and the magnificent Stearns County
Heritage Center in St. Cloud, this Center has the potential of creating an attractive
corridor for visitors, and can supplement redevelopment plans in the downtown areas of
both Becket and Elk River.