9.0. EDSR 02-14-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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agreed to authorize up to $400,000 in TIF funds from Districts No. 1 and No. 3 for • purposes of acquiring industrial sites in the community. Following a discussion with local utility companies,the EDA requested that Anoka Electric Cooperative (AEC) participate in an application to the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) to help underwrite a portion of the infrastructure costs associated with an industrial park/business park. After a presentation to AEC managers, the Task Force learned that it would receive AEC's participation in this request. An application to REA will likely be completed in early to mid 1994. The EDA Task Force also considered a"business park" concept that would encourage a mixed-use of light industrial, office, and limited commercial within the same area. The business park would require higher architectural standards for these end users. The Task Force and city staff developed a new set of standards and presented them to the Planning Commission for its consideration. Following a public hearing,the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council adopt an ordinance related to the business park standards. INDUSTRIAL COUNCIL Owners and managers of Elk River industrial companies continued meeting informally as an Industrial Council during 1993. This is done in an effort to share resources and • resolve common problems. The group conducted a lunch session dealing with the topic of sexual harassment; it examined the topic of Total Quality Management(TQM); and it hosted a morning meeting with U.S. Congressman Jim Oberstar. This meeting was done in conjunction with the Area Chamber of Commerce. MSA DESIGNATION In December, 1992, the federal Office of Management and Budget(OMB) designated Sherburne County as part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). While warmly received by Elk River and surrounding communities and health care providers,this designation was less well received by the City of St. Cloud. A small portion of St. Cloud, containing 5,500 persons, is located in Sherburne County. OMB's designation effectively reduced the St. Cloud MSA from a three county area(Sherburne, Benton, and Stearns),to a two county area(Benton and Stearns). In addition, the 5,500 persons in St. Cloud that are also residents of Sherburne County were now considered part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA. This led to an ongoing series of meetings resulting in a request to have both Benton and Stearns counties included in a Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area(CMSA). In late December, 1993, OMB reversed its earlier decision and designated Sherburne County as part of the St. Cloud MSA. This action results in lower mortgage insurance • limits and lower health care reimbursements for providers like Guardian Angels of Elk