Houlton Farm Planning Committee Meeting 2015-11-30

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Houlton Farm Plannuig Committee Page 2 October 26, 2015 ----------------------------- 5.2 Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) Update Mr. Hecker reported that FMR facilitated another grant award in the amount of $430,000 for prairie restoration at the property. Once the grant is awarded, the City will have four years to use the grant. Mr. Hecker will put together a RFP to define the where and how of the restoration and clarified that these grant funds do not include any prairie restoration at Bailey Point Nature Preserve. Mr. Sevcik will begin staking out the 50 foot buffer required along the river and will meet with the land lessee, Mr. Sherman, to calculate his reduction in crop area. Mr. Sherman also plans to continue growing beans for the duration of his lease and will be adding pot ash in the fall of 2015; both help the soil for future prairie grass. Mr. Hecker also noted all revenue received from Mr. Sherman's land lease goes back to the property. 5.3 Farm Buildings Removal Update Ms. Mroz reported that the open tour was last Wednesday and 10 interested parties attended. Mr. Hecker stated that he has received a few phone calls of interest from out of state parties. The deadline for proposal submission is November 5, 2015 at 2 p.m.; the bid states that all building removal must be complete by July 31, 2016. The Committee asked to review the proposals at the November 30, 2015 meeting, prior to Council review, which Mr. Hecker agreed to. Mr. Hecker reported the home has been removed with no incidents. Mr. Anderson stated that he has heard of several people campaigning to keep the white barn. 5.4 Utilities Mr. Hecker asked if the Committee thought power should be kept at the site to the Quonset building and if so, should it be buried? After discussion, Mr. Hecker and Mr. Sevcik will assess the need for power at the Quonset building and will talk to the Utility department if they feel it is needed to get a quote on the cost to run it underground. Mr. Hecker will provide an update at the November meeting. There might be two wells at the site that need to be capped; the natural gas line is flagged and there is a septic system on site. polEat r rr NATURE