09-16-2024 EDA MINMeeting of the Economic Development
Authority
Held at the Elk River City Hall
-sty°r Monday, September Ib, 2024
Elk
River
Members Present: Chair Dan Tveite, Commissioners Cory Grupa, Jeff Hartwig, Mike Beyer, Jennifer
Wagner
Members Absent: Commissioners Matt Westgaard and Charlie Blesener
Staff Present: Economic Development Brent O'Neil, Economic Development Specialist Joshua
Mollan, and Recording Secretary Jolene Richter
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting was called to order at 05:30 PM.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. CONSIDER AGENDA
Moved by Commissioner Jennifer Wagner and seconded by Commissioner Jeff Hartwig to
approve the agenda. Motion Carried 5-0.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
Moved by Commissioner Mike Beyer and seconded by Commissioner Cory Grupa to
approve the following consent items as outlined in their respective staff reports. Motion
Carried 5-0.
4.1 Check Register
4.2 Balance Sheet
4.3 Revenue/Expenditure Reports
S. OPEN FORUM
No one appeared for Open Forum.
Economic Development Authority Minutes Page 2 of 3
September 16, 2024
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no public hearings.
7. GENERAL BUSINESS
7.1 General Updates
The staff report was presented, and the following updates were provided:
■ Website: Shared analytics regarding the website, they are working with Golden Shovel to get
new content, and they added the public art piece.
■ Beautification Public Art Committee: The public art video has been published highlighting public
art in the community. They hope to continue adding content with public art including
highlighting the new piece Where Energy flows. They are working on the reveal for the new
piece, hoping it will be complete by the end of the year. They are also looking at what next year
will entail.
■ Together Elk River: They are looking to do some marketing to get people back into Elk River to
tie into the opening of the 169 project.
■ Staff along with Debbi Rydberg met as a 169 ribbon -cutting committee who are looking to do an
event to commemorate the opening of 169.
■ Heritage Millwork: The project has closed, and the land is in possession of Heritage Millwork.
They have already started construction.
■ Tipsy Chicken bought the Daddy-O's space and will have a restaurant there. They submitted an
application for a city loan.
■ They are having conversations with a couple of hotel groups. If it continues to gain seriousness,
it is foreseen it will be brought forth to the EDA for more conversation regarding proposals and
partnerships.
■ Kwik Trip: Things are still on track. Their extension is up October 12, then they have 30 days to
close. It is anticipated the transaction will happen in the middle of November.
• Development land: there was a recent inquiry from a state-wide search looking for sites with
50-80 acres in which is above and beyond what Elk River has to offer. There is the MMP land
that does not have utilities and the anticipated gravel pit site for the future. They would like to
keep the board informed of these inquiries.
■ They will be partnering with the Chamber and a handful of businesses to be part of the Cool
Jobs tour at the end of October. They recommend the EDA participate in sponsorship by buying
the mini backpacks for that event.
7.2 Payment Extension Request for Distinctive Iron Loan
The staff report was presented.
Moved by Commissioner Jennifer Wagner and seconded by Commissioner Jeff Hartwig to
authorize a continuance of the payment schedule with Distinctive Iron/Hemmer
Companies LLC under regular amortization while its request to extend the balloon
payment date is considered. Motion Carried 5-0.
Economic Development Authority Minutes
September 16, 2024
8. MOTION TO ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING
Page 3 of 3
Councilmember Wagner announced that the Downtown Elk River Business Association has been
named and awarded the Minnesota Retail Community of the Year through the Minnesota Retailers
Association. She invited the members to attend the ceremony on October 10, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. -
4:00 p.m. at Brookview in Golden Valley.
Moved by Commissioner Mike Beyer and seconded by Commissioner Cory Grupa to
adjourn the meeting. Motion Carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 05:44 PM
Minutes prepared by Jolene Richter.
Dan Tveite, Chair Tina Allard, City Clerk