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Economic Development Authority Minutes <br />August 14, 2006 <br />Page 4 <br />was proposed. Comtissioner Tveite stated he felt 10% down and an additional 10% for a <br />six-month extension was appropriate. <br />President Gongoll proposed scheduling a future planning session to identify potential <br />business park properties. Commissioner Klinzing noted that staff will be looking at the <br />gravel muting areas for future development. <br />Strategic Industrial Marketing Plan URdate <br />Ms. Mehelich provided a report on progress to date for updating the EDA' Strategic <br />Industrial Marketing Plan. She noted that according to Wolf Marketing & Media, 95% of <br />the feedback received in the interviews was positive. The Marketing Committee will meet to <br />review the research data and to firm up objectives for the update. Ms. Mehelich stated that <br />she anticipates the completed plan will be presented at the EDA's regular September <br />meeting. <br />9. Update on Incubator Location Commitmem - K-Netica <br />Ms. Mehelich provided an update on events leading to the EDA's request to K-Netica to <br />require them to repurchase the shazes of stock owned by the EDA. She discussed the <br />response from K-Netica CEO Steven Pederson, describing the company's situation and <br />request for the EDA to reconsider its action. Staff would like direction from the EDA as to <br />how to proceed. <br />President Gongoll stated the letter was sent to him as Chair of the EDA, but that he would <br />disclose that he still is an advisor to K-Netica and holds a position as having an option on <br />some warrants in the company. He stated that he had asked Ms. Mehelich if Mr. Pederson's <br />and Mr. Jacob's comments could be presented to the EDA for comments and/or discussion. <br />Commissioner Dwyer stated it is mentioned several times in the letter that there was no <br />space in Elk River to relocate. He felt that K-Netica perhaps did not look for space in good <br />faith, although they indicate in the letter that they did. He noted that when Mr. Rousher was <br />before the EDA, he indicated that one of the reasons for their move was attracting talent to <br />their organization. He felt their azguments in the letter are somewhat contradictory of their <br />comments when they were before the EDA. Commissioner Dwyer stated that they did not <br />end their lease early, and that it was expiring on its own. He stated that the company had <br />three months to look for space. He felt that they signed an agreement and should be bound <br />to it. He felt that if K-Netica wished to find someone to buy the City's shazes, so be it. He <br />felt that if they did not like the terms of the agreement when they signed it, they should not <br />have signed it. <br />President Gongoll stated that K-Netica indicated that the spaces they found in Elk River <br />were twice as much as they were willing to pay and felt that is why they ended up in the <br />Earle Brown property. He noted that they will be sub-leasing their space there. <br />The EDA discussed Mr. Pederson's comments, as well as comments received from Harlon <br />Jacobs of Genesis. <br />Commission Motin stated he is only wiling to consider deferral if the company can show <br />significant hazdship, and if not, he felt the EDA should proceed with their request. He did <br />not feel the City could speculate on future value of the stocks. He disagreed with the <br />company's arguments, as well. <br /> <br />