2. draft minutes of the 09-17-18 EDA meetingCITY OF SCANDIA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Monday, September 17, 2018
6:30 P.M.
Scandia Community Center Board Room
The Scandia Economic Development Authority met in the Board Room at the Scandia
Community Center on Monday, September 17, 2018 beginning at 6:30pm.
Commissioners Present: Bob Hegland, Brad Borg, Steve Kronmiller, Kirsten Libby, and Mark
Porubcansky.
Staff Present: Neil Soltis
Also present: Chris Eng
Minutes - Motion by Kronmiller, seconded by Porubcansky to approve the minutes of the June
11, 2018 meeting. Vote: Yes – 5. Motion carried.
Agenda - Motion by Kronmiller, seconded by Borg, to approve the agenda. Vote: Yes – 5.
Motion carried.
Discussion on the development of a 3-year work plan – Chris Eng lead a discussion on the
creation of a work plan that would allow the EDA to manage tasked, identify action steps and
deliverables, and serve as a tool for the budgeting process. Through an exercise t he members
identified the following 18 months goals:
Tourism assessment
Broadband internet
Sewer systems
Business retention and expansion
Business locations
Home based businesses
Zoning regulations impacting tourism, historic buildings, and small businesses
Agricultural economic development
Connections to the River corridor
Housing (senior, rentals, & entry)
Build, rebuild, and renovate buildings
The members assigned priorities to the goals in the following order
Agricultural economic development
Tourism assessment & Connecton to the River corridor
Broadband internet
Business retention and expansion & Housing
Eng will draft action steps for review at the next meeting
Update from Washington County CDA – Eng reported that the Open to Business program was
moved to the CDA budget for 2019 and that the County made $150,000 available for
predevelopment grants and to date 3 grants have been awarded.
Update on Fiber to the Premise feasibility study and Internet Focus Group – Kronmiller
reported that the internet survey is closed with 463 responses and that he is seeking a
complete set of data from the Blandin Foundation. Kronmiller reported on the preliminary cost
study that indicates a cost of over $13M to extend fiber to all homes in Scandia and that the
focus group will be looking at potential options and partners.
Update on Community Septic Study – Soltis reported that Bolton & Menk is expected to
complete the study by the end of the week.
Update on Tourism Assessment - Soltis reported that the expert team is scheduled to visit
Scandia on October 29th with an orientations, then teams venturing out into the community
followed by a debriefing and community SWOT activity.
Discussion on October Business Breakfast – The date for the business breakfast was set for
Thursday, October 18th. Presentation topics discussed were a Carney Forensics presentation on
computer security, an Open to Business presentation on marketing, a Century College
presentation on training, and an employment law presentation. Eng will check to see if Tyler
from Open to Business can do the presentation.
Update on MnDOT Landscape Partnership plantings – Soltis noted that the planting were
completed by the Scandia Creamery staff and a joint efforts between the Leos, Lions, and
Friends of Scandia Parks.
Items for future agendas – Items identified for future discussion were the broadband study and
the community septic.
Next Meeting Date – The next meeting will be at the October 18 business breakfast.
Adjournment – Motion by Porubcansky, seconded by Kronmiller to adjourn. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Neil Soltis, Secretary