PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release Monday, June, 2008

Contact: Noel LaBine 763-477-3086

Partnership holds State of the Cities event
at Albertville City Hall

The Wright County Economic Development Partnership held a State of the Cities event in Otsego at the Rockwood's Banquet Center on June 18 th . This event featured the Northern and Eastern cities of Wright County and Buffalo . The cities that presented at the Otsego event included Albertville, Buffalo, Hanover, Monticello, Otsego, and St. Michael.

Mayor Ron Klecker of Albertville began the presentations. He reminded the audience that the city owns three shovel-ready lots in the Barthel Industrial Park . Commercial projects that could happen soon include a new Emma Krumbees restaurant, and a 24 unit workforce housing complex, if tax credits are approved. Other news includes the city's recent decision to help employees save gas by initiating a four day work week. The offices will be closed on Fridays.

Laureen Bodin, assistant administrator, presented for the City of Buffalo . Bodin explained that their new sewage treatment plant will dry the solids in the sewage and then burn the solids. This plant should be able to handle over double what the present day population needs. The largest commercial development in Buffalo now is the 22 acre Nelson Building Development along Highway 25 across from the hospital. Allina Hospital & Clinics are responding to the upward trend of births by adding 17,000 square feet to their birthing center at the Buffalo Hospital . There is also a downtown retail study underway and plans for a downtown redevelopment, which could include the remodeling of a vacant furniture store into a banquet center. Also, a new second generation wireless internet system is being installed for use by community residents. Other developments include the relocation of the Rancho Grande to the former West Mill restaurant location, which has been remodeled. The city has become more diligent about enforcing codes in residential areas. This will result in vacant lots being mowed in a more timely fashion.

Mayor Joyce Paullin presented for the City of Hanover . Paullin shamelessly promoted the Hanover Harvest Festival, which will include a minnow race. The city is delighted that the new BankWest building will open for business by the end of June. The City's new Comp plan includes low-impact conservation design such as that included in the new bank building location.

Angela Schumann, Community Development planner for the City of Monticello, gave a brief overview of some of the features of the new Comp plan accepted by the City of Monticello. The economic development aspect of the plan included attracting more good jobs such as bio-science jobs. Also, they plan to do more to bring more vitality to downtown. The new plan includes the development of two more access points to I-94. These would be at Orchard Road and County Road 39. One of the projects mentioned is the Fiber Optic system, which will give residents and business owners in Monticello faster access to the digital and internet world of business. On May 22 nd the City agreed to approve the bond sale that will finance the city-owned communication enterprise. TDS communications then sued the city for illegal use of revenue bonds to finance the city-owned communications company. The City is confident that they will win that suit. Business expansion projects underway in Monticello include a new bank, two manufacturing plant expansions, the hospital expansion, and two downtown redevelopment projects. Other retail projects are also being considered.

Mike Robertson presented for the City of Otsego by describing how much chaos and havoc the negative Star Tribune articles in mid-April had on business development in Otsego. “Deal after deal was killed because of the negative articles that ran for three days on the front page of the Star Tribune .” In addition, Robertson fielded a call from Dunn & Bradstreet asking him what was going on, because they had six calls from people inquiring about their credit rating, which is excellent. In fact, there is a 2.5% housing vacancy in Otsego, which is average. The places that have really been hit hard by foreclosures, such as California , Florida , and Las Vegas , have a 5% plus vacancy rate. Meanwhile, housing continues to be built in Otsego with 280 homes built in '07 and 50 homes built so far this year. Commercial and industrial development in Otsego includes the completion of the Target store, which is scheduled to open October 8th. Next to that location there are two new banks being built; Kline and TCF. A third bank is looking into a location nearby as well. Highway 101 construction will also be completed this fall, and Robertson expects a healthy amount of strip retail and restaurant development next year. In addition there may be a large medical clinic developed. They are looking at either a five acre or a ten acre site.

Finally, Bob Derus, City administrator for the City of St. Michael , gave an update for St. Michael. There were 50 houses built in '07 and less will be built in '08. New developments being considered at this time include a 42 unit apartment building just southwest of Thrifty drug, a multi-housing building northwest of the new town center, and a new city hall/ library with a spring '09 start. They also are still looking for someone to partner with a development of a fitness center. The new St. Michael/ Albertville high school is nearing completion and at 400,000 square feet it includes a large field house for indoor track and field. The future Naber Ave. I-94 access now has 95% of the approvals necessary for that project. The city is waiting for a private partner with a large potential development to come forward before they will pursue construction of that access.

 

Tri-county Abstract and Title Guaranty, Inc was the exclusive sponsor for this event, and Sue Lentner welcomed the crowd.