03-28-2023 JFC MIN
Elk River Joint Finance Committee
Held at Elk River City Hall
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Members Present: Dan Tveite, Jim Gromberg, Ryan Hardin, Chad Vitzthum, Jill Larson-Vito
and Rhonda Magnussen (7:37 am)
Members Absent: Nate Ovall, and Charlie Blesener
Staff Present: Brent O’Neil, Economic Development Director, Joshua Mollan, Economic
Development Specialist
Others Present: Mikaela Huot (Baker Tilly), Ken Beaudry (Beaudry Oil)
1. Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Joint Finance
Committee was called to order by Chair Tveite at 7:35 a.m.
2. Consider Agenda
Moved by Gromberg and seconded by Vitzthum to approve the agenda. Motion
carried 5-0 (Magnussen absent).
3. Consent Agenda
Moved by Larson-Vito and seconded by Hardin to approve:
3.1 November 29, 2022 meeting minutes
Motion carried 5-0 (Magnussen absent).
4.1 Appointment of the Chair
Mr. O’Neil stated that per committee bylaws, a chair is to be nominated and elected at the
first meeting of every odd year for a two-year term.
Mr. Gromberg nominated Chair Tveite to continue to serve as Chair of the Joint Finance
Committee.
Moved by Gromberg and seconded by Hardin to re-elect Dan Tveite as Chair of the
Joint Finance Committee for a two-year term ending in 2024. Motion carried 5-0
(Magnussen absent).
4.2 Review Tax Abatement Application – Beaudry Lubricants/Harvest Reaper
Mr. O’Neil introduced the Beaudry project and presented the site location. Mr. O’Neil
introduced Ms. Huot (Baker Tilly) to present her review on the tax abatement application.
Ms. Huot described the project and tax abatement request from Beaudry Oil and Propane
and Harvest Reaper LLC of which the latter will be the recipient of the tax abatement. Ms.
Huot’s analysis that this project warrants public assistance due to extraordinary site
development costs. She estimates the city share to be $138,000 over 11 years.
Chair Tveite shared that this project would be a good fit for the area.
Mr. Beaudry shared that they would have liked assistance for the full 15 years but is happy
with any city assistance supporting the project.
Mr. Hardin asked if there needed to be any additional language to the motion in subject to
county participation.Mr. O’Neil and Ms. Huot stated that the city review is for the city
portion only and the item under consideration is for city tax abatement independent of the
county’s participation.
Moved by Gromberg and seconded by Larson-Vito to provide a recommendation to
the City Council and EDA to approve this tax abatement Motion carried 5-0
(Vitzthum abstained).
4.3 Open Discussion Items
Mr. O’Neil requested feedback to move forward with contacting a potential candidate for
consideration as an at-large member of the Joint Finance Committee.
The committee was agreeable to consider the applicant at the following meeting.
5.1 Announcements
There were no announcements.
6. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mr. Tveite adjourned the meeting at 7:58 a.m.
Minutes prepared by Brent O’Neil and Joshua Mollan.
_____________________
Tina Allard
City Clerk
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Brent O’Neil
Economic Development Director