A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2013 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.
Right of Way Access Agreement: an agreement draft for the county and city to enter in an agreement to allow full access on 26th St. at the intersection of Landmark Dr. and CSAH 34 (26th St.); added to draft a 5-year review provision; City Council will review at their meeting next Tuesday.
Health & Human Services Service Delivery Area-Design Phase: four counties are included (Mower, Dodge, Steele and Waseca); next steps include refining work plan, timetable and budget for the detailed design phase and Steele County's consideration of a resolution that includes a shared vision, enter into a detailed design phase and commit to a joint powers arrangement and to allocate funding ($902,120 Steele County portion).
Public Works Building update: task force thought it would be too many 'what if's' with the two existing sites to do remodel projects; task force recommending to build on land off of old Hwy. 14; they have working sessions set up to discuss size and scope of project; end of August is timeline to have task force make recommendation to the Commissioners.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Task Force recommends building on purchased land
The Steele County Public Works Service Center Task Force is recommending that Steele
County build a new highway department facility on its purchased land on old Highway 14.
However, the price must be lower than the proposal a year ago, task force members emphasized.
The recommendation will be presented to the Steele County Board at its June 11 meeting.
The task force has been meeting since January to identify a satisfactory solution to current and longterm
highway department facility needs. In fall 2012, the County Board tabled a vote to build a $13
million new facility on Crane Creek Road after the project ran into concern from business and private
citizens questioning the cost. The county has been leasing temporary facilities since the September 2010
flood left its 40-year-home on Hoffman Drive uninhabitable.
The task force – made up of city and county staff and elected officials, along with five private citizens –
met June 4 to review costs associated with three options: buy and remodel the current leased buildings
at 900 NW 30th Place in the industrial park, buy and remodel the vacated Caterpillar building on South
County Road 45 or build new on old Highway 14/Crane Creek Road.
Deb Brandwick of Oertel Architects and Scott Quiring of Amcon Construction Management presented
revised estimated costs of each site, after touring both existing facilities. They estimated costs of $11.2
million to purchase and remodel the Caterpillar building and $9 million to purchase and remodel the
location currently being leased. Buildings at both sites are 30-plus years old. Task force discussion and
consensus was that neither site appeared to be a good investment for the county based on the age and
work flow constraints.
County possession of the Caterpillar building would remove $2.5 million of tax base from Owatonna
Township rolls, township leaders wrote in a resolution forwarded to the task force. The township
recommended the county build on its purchased site.
Margaret Michaletz, a private citizen task force member, said it was time to move forward. “We’ve had
one common thread throughout these discussions with taxpayers: it must be reasonable. We’ve learned
enough; it’s time to spend energy on shrinking the proposed building.”
Chair of the task force and County Commissioner Bruce Kubicek recommended the group meet again in
a work session on June 18 to redesign the proposed building. He expressed hope the redesign work be
done by August.
Discussions at that meeting will include proposed cuts and changes. The challenge will be prioritizing
needs after analyzing the cost benefit on labor efficiencies and materials life cycle savings, county staff
noted. The next full task force meeting is scheduled for 3-4:30 p.m. July 18.
County build a new highway department facility on its purchased land on old Highway 14.
However, the price must be lower than the proposal a year ago, task force members emphasized.
The recommendation will be presented to the Steele County Board at its June 11 meeting.
The task force has been meeting since January to identify a satisfactory solution to current and longterm
highway department facility needs. In fall 2012, the County Board tabled a vote to build a $13
million new facility on Crane Creek Road after the project ran into concern from business and private
citizens questioning the cost. The county has been leasing temporary facilities since the September 2010
flood left its 40-year-home on Hoffman Drive uninhabitable.
The task force – made up of city and county staff and elected officials, along with five private citizens –
met June 4 to review costs associated with three options: buy and remodel the current leased buildings
at 900 NW 30th Place in the industrial park, buy and remodel the vacated Caterpillar building on South
County Road 45 or build new on old Highway 14/Crane Creek Road.
Deb Brandwick of Oertel Architects and Scott Quiring of Amcon Construction Management presented
revised estimated costs of each site, after touring both existing facilities. They estimated costs of $11.2
million to purchase and remodel the Caterpillar building and $9 million to purchase and remodel the
location currently being leased. Buildings at both sites are 30-plus years old. Task force discussion and
consensus was that neither site appeared to be a good investment for the county based on the age and
work flow constraints.
County possession of the Caterpillar building would remove $2.5 million of tax base from Owatonna
Township rolls, township leaders wrote in a resolution forwarded to the task force. The township
recommended the county build on its purchased site.
Margaret Michaletz, a private citizen task force member, said it was time to move forward. “We’ve had
one common thread throughout these discussions with taxpayers: it must be reasonable. We’ve learned
enough; it’s time to spend energy on shrinking the proposed building.”
Chair of the task force and County Commissioner Bruce Kubicek recommended the group meet again in
a work session on June 18 to redesign the proposed building. He expressed hope the redesign work be
done by August.
Discussions at that meeting will include proposed cuts and changes. The challenge will be prioritizing
needs after analyzing the cost benefit on labor efficiencies and materials life cycle savings, county staff
noted. The next full task force meeting is scheduled for 3-4:30 p.m. July 18.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
City Council Notes: June 4, 2013
A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2013 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.
Legislative Update from Representative John Petersburg to Council
LGA Increase to Owatonna of an additional 700,000 estimate, 80 million more to the program.
61 cities in Minnesota do not get LGA
Cities and Counties Exempted sales tax.
$1.60 increase in cigarette tax per pack (Minnesota=2.08, Iowa =1.36, SD=1.53, and ND =.44)
Marriage Bill
Daycare workers Union Authorization
Tax Bill 2.1 billion in new taxes
300-600 million in new fees
Spending increase by 3.1 billion
1300 new State jobs
Legislature adjourned to Feb 25th 2014
Other City Council items
Second reading on Amendment to Off Street Parking, will reduce the number of required spaces for offices and other business uses from present requirement of 1 per 200 square feet to 1 per 300 square feet.
Approve cable TV franchise audit. Hire Lewis & Associates to audit Charter books, the City gets 5% of gross revenue from Charter, audit is done to make sure that Charter is in compliance. A three year review will cost $8500 for the audit
Legislative Update from Representative John Petersburg to Council
LGA Increase to Owatonna of an additional 700,000 estimate, 80 million more to the program.
61 cities in Minnesota do not get LGA
Cities and Counties Exempted sales tax.
$1.60 increase in cigarette tax per pack (Minnesota=2.08, Iowa =1.36, SD=1.53, and ND =.44)
Marriage Bill
Daycare workers Union Authorization
Tax Bill 2.1 billion in new taxes
300-600 million in new fees
Spending increase by 3.1 billion
1300 new State jobs
Legislature adjourned to Feb 25th 2014
Other City Council items
Second reading on Amendment to Off Street Parking, will reduce the number of required spaces for offices and other business uses from present requirement of 1 per 200 square feet to 1 per 300 square feet.
Approve cable TV franchise audit. Hire Lewis & Associates to audit Charter books, the City gets 5% of gross revenue from Charter, audit is done to make sure that Charter is in compliance. A three year review will cost $8500 for the audit
Thursday, May 30, 2013
County Public Works Building Update
Media Release
Date: May 28, 2013
From: Tom Shea
Administrator
Steele County
For Immediate Release
Steele County Public Works Service Center Task
Force Notes Progress
Owatonna – A 16-member county
task force continues its work to identify a satisfying solution to current and
long-term highway department facility needs.
Five private citizens are
serving on the Task Force, each chosen by the commissioner of his or her
district. The five were asked to lend an outside view of the project, listen to
other citizens’ concerns and bring their fields of expertise to the process.
The five are Marvin Spindler, Jim Shafer, Matt Durand, Steve Kath and Margaret
Michaletz.
Since the formation of the task
force five months ago, the public works task force has learned the needs of the
county and explored the options presented. Currently, three options are being
considered seriously: construction of a new building on Crane Creek Road (old
Highway 14) that the county has invested approximately $900,000 in purchase and
site preparation, buying the vacated former Caterpillar building on South
County Road 45 listed at $3 million, or buying the current leased facility
located at 900 30th Place NW in the Owatonna industrial park.
The task force toured the
Caterpillar building and reviewed remodeling costs provided by Oertel
Architects and Ancom, Construction Managers. Task force members have been
sharing the information they’re receiving with friends and colleagues in the community
and sharing their findings with the committee, as well.
The Task Force members have also
prioritized 11 criteria important for selecting the site.
At the May meeting, Kath noted
that the task force’s work will be completed when “we have the best number we
feel comfortable with. We did the best
we could and this is what the group decided.“
The Public Works Task Force
meets again June 4 at 3:00 p.m. in the County Boardroom.
Formation of the task force
arose early in 2013 after the County Board tabled a vote to build a $13 million
new facility on Crane Creek Road in mid-2012. The project ran into criticism
from business and private citizens who questioned the cost and the seeming lack
of community input on the proposal.
The county is looking for new
highway headquarters after the September 2010 flood left its 40-year-home on
Hoffman Drive uninhabitable. Since then, it has been leasing temporary
facilities in the industrial park.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
County Board Meeting: May 14, 2013
A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2013 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.
County Commissioners received a packet and annual update from Tourism Director Lisa Havelka. Last year the county was able to give $1,200 toward Southern Minnesota Tourism Association (about 36 counties that co-op to bring tourism to southern MN). Commissioners to decide at 7 PM meeting if they are able to contribute again.
Laura Ihrke presented information on ditch viewer training. Appx. $10,000 to be raised (amount goes down if more counties participate).
U of M Extension presented a program review of 2013/2014 goals. Areas included: Ag, Horticulture 4-H, and Nutrition Education.
Steve Rholik presented info on the contract change order with Motorola, as well as info on the 800 MHz antennas (both Blooming Prairie sites).
Anita Benson presented an update on the Public Works Service Center Task Force. The task force has worked through priority rankings for items on the site. Preliminary costs for the Caterpillar concept and Manthe/Crane Creek concept have been initially outlined. June 4th is next task force meeting. Group is planning on an public update/announcement of a "progress report" soon. FEMA is supposed to respond to county soon.
County Commissioners received a packet and annual update from Tourism Director Lisa Havelka. Last year the county was able to give $1,200 toward Southern Minnesota Tourism Association (about 36 counties that co-op to bring tourism to southern MN). Commissioners to decide at 7 PM meeting if they are able to contribute again.
Laura Ihrke presented information on ditch viewer training. Appx. $10,000 to be raised (amount goes down if more counties participate).
U of M Extension presented a program review of 2013/2014 goals. Areas included: Ag, Horticulture 4-H, and Nutrition Education.
Steve Rholik presented info on the contract change order with Motorola, as well as info on the 800 MHz antennas (both Blooming Prairie sites).
Anita Benson presented an update on the Public Works Service Center Task Force. The task force has worked through priority rankings for items on the site. Preliminary costs for the Caterpillar concept and Manthe/Crane Creek concept have been initially outlined. June 4th is next task force meeting. Group is planning on an public update/announcement of a "progress report" soon. FEMA is supposed to respond to county soon.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
City Council Notes-May 7, 2013
A part of the OACCT's
Public Policy efforts for 2013 is for volunteers from the Public Policy
committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that
are of interest/concern to business.
Steele County Assessor had the Board of Appeals and Equalization report, some highlights from the report,
128 foreclosures in Owatonna in 2012 versus 175 in 2010.
Commercial and Industrial property had slight increase in value of .7%
Plan to evaluate all commercial and industrial properties in 2013 for 2014 assessment.
Value on new construction for 2012 was $8,144,900.00
Conditional Use permit for new drive thru restaurant at 1232 Oak Ave South, by Tailwind Investment.
Conditional use permit for OPU for repurpose of the old power plant.
Bids awarded on various street projects for 2013 including NW Industrial Park Pond for $1,000,472.00 awarded to Borneke Construction using State and TIF monies.
Development agreement with Tailwind LLC for old Budget Mart and Hardee’s site. Creates TIF district for total amount of TIF is 220,000 with 100,000 going to developer for demolition and site prep, and 120,000 going to City for realignment of Barney Street and administrative costs.
Coffee with Council May 18 from 9-10 am at The Kitchen.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
County Meetings Available Online
The Chamber’s Public Policy committee is pleased to announce that County Commissioner meetings will be available online at Owatonnalive.com. This has been one of the committee's 2013 legislative agenda goals: transparency: encourage greater transparency with county information, including: budget, meeting notices, agenda with supporting documentation. Achieve County Commissioner meetings shown on television or some other electronic medium
The Public Policy committee has encouraged County officials to make public meetings available by broadcasting/streaming.
City Council meetings will be available soon too on Owatonnalive.com. City meetings currently available on bliptv.com
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