Thursday, November 14, 2024

Glencoe eyes infrastructure grant for East Industrial Park improvements – Herald Journal Publishing

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The Glencoe Economic Development Authority (EDA) discussed potential funding for the infrastructure improvements for the new East Industrial Park during their Monday meeting. Glencoe City Administrator Mark Larson and Assistant Glencoe City Administrator and Public Works Director Mark Lemen attended a meeting on Oct. 24 with Nate Reuss of the Mid-Minnesota Development Commission (MMDC) and Darrin Fleener of the US Economic Development Administration to discuss the potential funding. “They had indicated that the reason they were looking at the City of Glencoe was because we purchased energy from a renewable energy source, which is the Spruceridge Landfill with the methane that is created out there,” Larson said. He said there are only two cities, Glencoe and Willmar, that are within the MDDC that are eligible for this grant. Larson said the city is planning to have a follow-up meeting with the MDDC, CEDA (Community and Economic Development Associates), and Short Elliott Hendricks (SEH). Larson noted that the city can apply for the grant at “anytime” and that they will “keep moving” forward in the process.

The industrial park was initially constructed in 2007 and an expansion concept for the park was created in 2021 after discussion began during the creation of Glencoe’s Comprehensive Plan. Glencoe City Engineer Justin Black of SEH said the concept for a 130-acre expansion of the park would be set up “well” given the proximity of road and rail access in the area. He said they reviewed a 2018 Highway 212 corridor study for the future growth of Glencoe and said he sees the expansion area as “valuable frontage along Highway 212”, particularly with the planned expansion of the highway to four lanes.

CEDA representative update

CEDA President and CEO Ron Ziegler said the organization is trying to find the “right” person in Glencoe and not just the “fastest” permanent person. Ziegler had informed Larson on Oct. 9 that CEDA’s Glencoe representative Bryan Stading is on “leave”. He said they are currently going through the interview process and are “encouraged” by the candidates, which are a mix of external and internal. Ziegler said he hopes to be “zeroed” in by the next EDA meeting. He said “realistically” they are looking at a “fairly aggressive” start date for the new employee of Dec. 1. Ziegler apologized for the staff turnover at the outset of the company’s relationship with the city and noted that the community wants a person in place “as soon as possible”.

The city held a meet and greet event at the former McLeod County Chronicle building on Oct. 2 with Stading. Larson said Stading was set up with an office in the Glencoe City Center as well as given a city email account, business cards, and a phone line.

Glencoe’s contract with CEDA for economic development services went into effect on Sep. 1 with funding for the contract set to come from an EDA levy of $125,000. The contract is for the remainder of 2024 and the entirety of 2025 and CEDA will be paid $62,000 annually and will be paid a prorated rate for 2024. CEDA is a private 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that assists entities with grant writing, city administration, planning and development, rural innovation, and community support programs. According to Stading, CEDA has worked with neighboring Sibley County for the past three years.

Rice Companies pond reconfiguration

Larson said Rice Companies is currently working on their design for their pond reconfiguration and expansion. He said they have subcontracted some “calculations” with SEH to complete some work in a “timely manner” to ensure they break ground on the project this year. “We are almost at the end of October right now, so they really want to get moving and get in the ground as quickly as possible,” Larson said. He said the application for the pond reconfiguration is with the Buffalo Creek Watershed District. “It’s nothing on our end at this point, I don’t think there are any issues, it’s just a matter of crossing the ‘T’s’ and dotting the ‘I’s’,” Larson said.

Earlier in the summer, Rice Companies and the city agreed to the reconfiguration of the water detention pond on the proposed 1.5-acre lot that was owned by the City of Glencoe in exchange for the cost of the pond reconfiguration being borne by the company. The estimated cost of the pond reconfiguration is approximately $228,000. Rice Companies has been located in the East Industrial Park since 2017.

EDA awning grant

The EDA unanimously approved an awning request for Pro Nails at 702 11th St. E. The awning grant will cover $2,500 of the $4,150 quote and remains subject to final approval from the city council at their next meeting. Larson doesn’t anticipate any more awning grants “on the horizon” for this year.

Odds and ends

Larson said it is the city’s understanding that the new Dollar General off of Highway 22 will be opening “probably within the week”.

The EDA briefly reviewed mission statements for the organization with Ziegler.

The next EDA meeting is scheduled for Nov. 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the Glencoe City Center. 

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