Mueller, Monson to serve on local board

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

The New York Mills Economic Development Authority held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 11.

The NY Mills EDA board has overcome a few obstacles in the past two months as two board members have recently submitted their resignations, which made it difficult to reach a quorum at monthly meetings. The September meeting was cancelled because a quorum was not met and a special meeting on October 5 was held to discuss timely EDA matters, as well as set October’s meeting date. The meeting was immediately closed to discuss the loan in default.

The NY Mills EDA has worked with the business to try and rectify the situation, but the business has had trouble making their loan payments for the past months. City Attorney Sam Felix will be contacting the Wadena State Bank on behalf of the EDA to negotiate a settlement. The EDA will then consider writing a new loan for the remaining balance of the existing EDA loan with new collateral. The EDA is currently in a holding pattern on the loan and have buyers looking into the property.

Jason Schik submitted a letter of resignation from the EDA board and the rest of the members will be sending him a letter thanking him for his four years of service. This opening, as well as the recent resignation of Amy Sobieski as secretary, opens two spots to fill on the board. Three applications were received and the committee commented that all three were good candidates for the position. 

Blaine Novak motioned to appoint Tim Mueller and Caleb Monson as the two new EDA members per the committee’s recommendation. The motion was seconded and carried.

Julie Roberts, NY Mills city clerk, updated the board on three lots that have been sold in the Country View Addition, as well as one currently pending with contingency.

Latham Hetland said that the NYM Forward Executive Committee recently met and will be spending most of the coming months engaged in the Welcoming Communities Cohort. One member of the committee has also recently resigned, so a new member is being sought for that position.

Roberts said that the city received and approved the building permit for the anticipated 60-unit apartment building in the Southpoint Addition and construction should commence soon.

Otter Tail County did not receive the grant they had hoped for in order to build senior housing in Southpoint. They will be trying again for the grant in the year to come.

Roberts also said that the city recently purchased the 103 and 105 South Main properties back from Gabrielson whose plans to build a duplex there have been changed. He offered the city first option to buy the properties back and the city purchased the lots at their recent council meeting.

Roberts informed the council that there has been $12,500 given out from the CDA grants this year. A total of $37,500 is still available to local businesses that needs to be spent this calendar year if the funds are to be used.

Hetland informed the NY Mills EDA that there have been five framed first-dollar of profits given out to new businesses in the past month with more incoming businesses on the horizon. He also mentioned that the Continental Brew Pub is coming along with construction and licensing being done.

The next meeting of the EDA will be on November 15 at 8:30 a.m. in the city hall chambers.