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Elk Piz~cr Planning Cnrnmission <br />Jc~nc ?2, 2009 <br />!'nge 3 <br />of the Elk River community does not hinge on this one property. There are numerous <br />development opportunities east and west of Highway 169, along the three plus mile corridor <br />extending from the current extent of development in Elk River. To us, it is logica] to allow the <br />landfill to expand to the natural border created by 221tif Avenue. <br />Economics arld lobs <br />Sections of the HKGi report attempt to paint the promise of 2,000 jobs anal $400 million dollars <br />associated with the subject property. This is simply a red lYerring to derail the expansion. <br />However, real jobs do hang in the balance today. Business owners from the community stood <br />up on June 9'" at the Planning Commission to let you kno~T what fihe impact this project means <br />for their business. We whole heartily concur with their concerns as do ou.r employees. <br />Additionally it is difficult to ignore the economic reality of the fees generated to the City of Elk <br />River by the landfill. From our understanding these dollars represent in excess of 10`% of the <br />City's overall budget. Dedicated and dependable revenue sources are rare and should not be <br />so easily cast aside based on speculation by consultants using dubious models based on <br />erxoneous assumptions. To simply overlook the budget reality of our times would be <br />irresponsible. <br />In Summary <br />• As always, we stand ready to participate in the process and study of our property. We'd <br />welcome the opportunity and we are. uncertain why staff has closed the process to <br />meaningful input. <br />• On June 1.9, 2009 we received staff's written report to the Planning Commission. Once <br />again it does not appear that our mining plans are accurately reflected in the findings, <br />and thus eve find the cone+3usions, particularly the financial modeling, to be without <br />merit. <br />• We believe that there are ample opportunities along the Highway 1.69 corridor far the <br />type of extensive development potential which is described in the HKGi repor#. The <br />future of the Elk River community does not hinge on this one property. <br />• There are real jobs and local businesses that are dependent on this expansion for their <br />economic livelihood. These concerns shouldn't be dismissed based on speculations of <br />what might happen in ?080. <br />^ Dedicated and dependable revenue sources are rare and should not be cast aside ~nrithout <br />hard facts. The current HKGi study is simply too flawed to be relied upon to make <br />informed decisions. <br />