Monticello City Council Highlights - July 26, 2021

MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS"City

July 26, 2021

EDA Annual Update

Economic Development Manager Jim Thares presented the annual Economic Development department update.

"EDA“The 2020-2021 workplans included six components: downtown redevelopment was the top goal or priority for the EDA. Promoting industrial and commercial development was the second priority, housing development was third. The IEDC’s priorities were labor force development and business retention and expansion. In 2020 the CARES Act came to the city and money was provided to the EDA and that’s where the COVID-19 emergency response efforts were established,” said Thares.

He then elaborated further explaining that Block 52 was the top priority of the Downtown Redevelopment work plan as well as the Façade Improvement Program. One highlight was that the façade improvements to the Agosto building were completed in late 2020, with three new applications submitted this spring/summer, all of which are on Block 35.

According to Thares, there were 38 EDA CARES Act grants approved for $5,000 each. Eight additional City CARES Act grants were also approved for restaurants and microbreweries in the community.

Riverfest Recap

Riverfest 2021 was a huge success according to Riverfest City Liaison Tom Pawelk.

“Overall, it was a good turnout. Second highest gross sales that the Riverfest committee has ever seen, so that’s pretty good. Record beer sales… and duck adoptions were basically sold out, so that’s 5,000 ducks sold,” said Pawelk.

The first night [Thursday] kicked off at Pioneer Park, with a Monticello firefighter showing up strong for a second year in a row and winning the pie eating contest. Mayor Hilgart teased that may only be because he’s “not invited back” to the pie eating contest after winning twice.

“Friday night, the talent show had 22 acts and we followed it up with a wonderful fireworks display, sponsored by the City of Monticello. The Lions Bean Bag tournament on Saturday had 49 entries,” said Pawelk.

Pawelk added that while Sunday’s parade was shorter than past years, with no royalty candidates or visiting royalty; the shorter parade might have been preferable given the heat. He joked that the kids didn’t seem to mind because they still got plenty of candy.

Online Building Permits

City of Monticello is now offering online building permits for permits that do not require a plan review. Visit our website to check it out! 

Council Approval

  • Council approved Special Event Permit
    • City Council approved a Special Event Permit and temporary liquor license for the Rotary’s Taste of the Towns event. The event will be held on Thursday, September 16 in the commuter lot on Deegan Ave. 

  • Council approved new restrooms for Ellison Park
    • City Council approved the purchase of modular restrooms to replace the existing restrooms at Ellison Park. The project will also include ADA improvements in the area around the bathroom.
  • Council approved proceeding with bids for DMV relocation
    • City Council approved notifying the State of Minnesota of intent to move the DMV from its current location to the Prairie Center building at 118 W. 6th Street. Council also approved proceeding with bids for the improvements necessary to remodel the first floor of the building for the DMV. City Council will consider officially ordering the improvements at a future meeting.

WATCH A CITY MEETING

Citizens are welcome to attend City Council, Planning Commission, and Economic Development Authority meetings, but we understand that attending in person is not always an option. As an alternative, we offer the following options to stay engaged with your local government:

  • Meetings are broadcast live on cable channel 12 (FiberNet and TDS subscribers) or channel 180 (Charter subscribers).
  • Meetings are streamed live online. View the live stream on the Monticello Live Stream website.
  • Meetings recordings are available online to watch when it's convenient for you. View the meeting recordings on the Monticello Live Stream website.
  • Meetings are rebroadcast throughout the week on cable channel 12 (FiberNet & TDS subscribers) or channel 180 (Charter subscribers).

 

Mar 13

[ARCHIVED] City Council Highlights - March 11, 2024

The original item was published from March 13, 2024 11:55 AM to March 13, 2024 2:00 PM

The City Council meeting on Monday, March 11 was relatively short this week. Two highlights from the Public Service Announcements include the transportation open houses for our community: 

Public Open House: Upcoming Transportation Projects – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Construction season starts soon! MnDOT, Wright & Sherburne Counties, and the City of Monticello are hosting a Public Open House at the Monticello Community Center on Tuesday, March 19 to highlight 2024 construction and planning projects, including:

Stop by the Monticello Community Center between 6-7 p.m. to learn more about the expected traffic impacts, detours, and project details. 

There is no formal presentation, so you can focus on the projects that matter most to you.

MnDOT Open House for Hwy. 25: Buffalo to Monticello Project – Thursday, March 14, 2024

MnDOT is hosting a public meeting about Hwy. 25 improvements from Caitlin St. in Buffalo to Kjellberg Court in Monticello. The project is scheduled for 2026. 

The public meeting will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 at the Wright County Highway Department, located at 3600 Braddock Ave. NE, in Buffalo. Individuals can meet with project staff, view designs, and ask questions.

Annual update from the Economic Development Manager

Council received an update from the Economic Development Manager, Jim Thares. 

The Economic Development Department focuses on enhancing the economic strength and quality of life of a community. Their responsibilities include attracting new businesses and housing, helping retain and expand existing businesses, and encouraging redevelopment opportunities in key locations. Staff in the department work directly with the Economic Development Authority (EDA), the Industrial & Economic Development Committee (IEDC).

Relying on a variety of tools, incentives, and partnerships, the priorities for 2023 included:

  • Downtown Redevelopment
  • Industrial & Commercial Development
  • Housing Development
  • Labor Force Development

2023 Economic Development Highlights:

  • 14 new development projects: 5 residential projects, 5 commercial projects, 3 industrial projects, and 1 mixed-use development for commercial and residential use. 
  • Housing Study completed
  • Hotel Study completed
  • Received two grants:
    1. $1,000 from the MN Business Finance Corporation (MBFC) for the EDA’s Hotel Study. 
    2. $10,000 from the Initiative Foundation for future projects in the Downtown area. 
  • Promoted Monticello – including participating in a podcast!

Council Approved the Demolition of 207 East River Street

Almost one year ago (April 2023) City Council approved the purchase of 207 East River Street after the owner approached the City. The property is right next to East Bridge Park and creates a better buffer between the park and residential neighborhood. It also provides future opportunities for a better Great River Trail Connection. 

Last fall the city completed a hazardous materials assessment and confirmed the property contains asbestos and lead-based paints. Because of this, the best course of action is to remove the hazards, demolish the structures, and then restore the area with grading and an erosion control plan. 

The removal of the hazardous materials will begin this spring (2024), with project completion expected this summer.