$300,000 of TIF money might be available to City
June 18th, 2009The City of Gaylord is continuing to research whether or not it can spend $300,000 from the downtown tax increment financing district. The district was decertified at the end of 2008.
City Administrator Kevin McCann told the EDA last week that an attorney from the Briggs and Morgan law firm in the Twin Cities felt that there would be an opportunity for the City to spend the $300,000. The attorney met with the State Auditor’s Office and the request is currently being reviewed, according to McCann.
Brent Pearson, Gaylord EDA coordinator, presented a report with several ideas for spending the funds, if the City is allowed to keep them. Some of the suggestions include streetscaping, which could include planters, pots, hanging baskets, pavers and lighting; hire a marketing agency to help the City identify its theme; street and awning repairs; renovating buildings into mixed use space; and creating a downtown park or green space.
Pearson said that the projects had been identified during the Minnesota Design Team visit last fall.
In other business, the EDA:
• Completed the EDA goals and objects. The top four votes were for downtown revitalization, business retention and expansion, mobile home park, housing development, and EDA municipalities meeting.
• Learned that the proposed mobile home park ordinance is being reviewed by the City attorney. It will be given to Planning and Zoning this month for review.
• Approved a contract for services between the City of Gaylord and Region Nine Development Commission for economic and community development staffing services, and economic development technical assistance. The new contract would provide up to 660 hours of staff time per contract year, which would average 12 hours per week. The service contract would be for $16,500, plus $2,500 for mileage expenses, and $200 for copy expenses.
• Learned that Pearson will be contacting the public access channel to provide updated information about the Gaylord EDA.
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