Council Highlights 7_26

Monticello City Council Highlights - July 26, 2021

MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTSCity of Monticello

July 26, 2021

EDA Annual Update

Economic Development Manager Jim Thares presented the annual Economic Development department update.

“The 2020-2021 workplans included six components: downtown redevelopment was the top goal or priority for the EDA. Promoting industrial and commercial development was the second priority, housing development was third. The IEDC’s priorities were labor force development and business retention and expansion. In 2020 the CARES Act came to the city and money was provided to the EDA and that’s where the COVID-19 emergency response efforts were established,” said Thares.

EDA ANNUAL UPDATE: Presentation intro slideHe then elaborated further explaining that Block 52 was the top priority of the Downtown Redevelopment work plan as well as the Façade Improvement Program. One highlight was that the façade improvements to the Agosto building were completed in late 2020, with three new applications submitted this spring/summer, all of which are on Block 35.

According to Thares, there were 38 EDA CARES Act grants approved for $5,000 each. Eight additional City CARES Act grants were also approved for restaurants and microbreweries in the community.

Riverfest Recap

Riverfest 2021 was a huge success according to Riverfest City Liaison Tom Pawelk.

“Overall, it was a good turnout. Second highest gross sales that the Riverfest committee has ever seen, so that’s pretty good. Record beer sales… and duck adoptions were basically sold out, so that’s 5,000 ducks sold,” said Pawelk.

The first night [Thursday] kicked off at Pioneer Park, with a Monticello firefighter showing up strong for a second year in a row and winning the pie eating contest. Mayor Hilgart teased that may only be because he’s “not invited back” to the pie eating contest after winning twice.

“Friday night, the talent show had 22 acts and we followed it up with a wonderful fireworks display, sponsored by the City of Monticello. The Lions Bean Bag tournament on Saturday had 49 entries,” said Pawelk.

Pawelk added that while Sunday’s parade was shorter than past years, with no royalty candidates or visiting royalty; the shorter parade might have been preferable given the heat. He joked that the kids didn’t seem to mind because they still got plenty of candy.

Online Building Permits

City of Monticello is now offering online building permits for permits that do not require a plan review. Visit our website to check it out! 

Council Approval

  • Council approved Special Event Permit
    • City Council approved a Special Event Permit and temporary liquor license for the Rotary’s Taste of the Towns event. The event will be held on Thursday, September 16 in the commuter lot on Deegan Ave. 


  • Council approved new restrooms for Ellison Park
    • City Council approved the purchase of modular restrooms to replace the existing restrooms at Ellison Park. The project will also include ADA improvements in the area around the bathroom.
  • Council approved proceeding with bids for DMV relocation
    • City Council approved notifying the State of Minnesota of intent to move the DMV from its current location to the Prairie Center building at 118 W. 6th Street. Council also approved proceeding with bids for the improvements necessary to remodel the first floor of the building for the DMV. City Council will consider officially ordering the improvements at a future meeting.

WATCH A CITY MEETING

Citizens are welcome to attend City Council, Planning Commission, and Economic Development Authority meetings, but we understand that attending in person is not always an option. As an alternative, we offer the following options to stay engaged with your local government:

  • Meetings are broadcast live on cable channel 12 (FiberNet and TDS subscribers) or channel 180 (Charter subscribers).
  • Meetings are streamed live online. View the live stream on the Monticello Live Stream website.
  • Meetings recordings are available online to watch when it's convenient for you. View the meeting recordings on the Monticello Live Stream website.
  • Meetings are rebroadcast throughout the week on cable channel 12 (FiberNet & TDS subscribers) or channel 180 (Charter subscribers).

 

Nov 10

[ARCHIVED] Press Release: Council Approves Land Purchase for Future Public Works Facility - Nov. 9, 2021

The original item was published from November 9, 2021 4:11 PM to November 10, 2021 11:08 AM

DATE:           July 28, 2021

                      For Immediate Release

CONTACT:  Rachel Leonard

                      (763) 295-2711 | rachel.leonard@ci.monticello.mn.us

City Council Approves Land Purchase for Future Public Works Facility
 

Monticello, MN – On Monday, Nov. 8 City Council approved the purchase of approximately 70 acres of land along School Boulevard. The land was purchased with the intent to construct a new public works facility on a portion of the site. The City will make a future decision about how to best use the balance of the property. Public Works Mock Up

The purchase agreement specifies a sale price of $2.8 million dollars which will be paid from a fund created specifically for this project. The fund contains the necessary balance to complete the purchase. City Council noted the site is an ideal location and provides flexibility for the final facility configuration, including office space, vehicle storage, and cold storage for larger equipment.

The City’s current public works facility is located at 909 Golf Course Road. It’s an aging property that was originally constructed in 1975, and the most recent addition was added in 1995 for vehicle storage. Over the summer, the City completed an assessment of the existing facility that highlighted nearly $3 million dollars in repair and maintenance costs, which only addresses current capacity. 

A previous study also showed the existing facility no longer has adequate space for the personnel, equipment, and supplies necessary to operate the department. The existing buildings don’t provide adequate space for storage, resulting in vehicles and other equipment being stored outside or at alternate storage sites in the community. This limits efficiency and increases maintenance needs. In addition, the current site is located on only 4.5 acres, which limits the ability to expand at that location. 

During the planning process, the City explored several options for relocation of public works. The most important site factors were convenient location and access as well as approximately 20 acres to bring all aspects of the facility onto a single site. The selected site on School Boulevard meets the necessary criteria and provides a quality location for a long-lasting investment. 

The City anticipates closing on the property by the end of the year. With the location finalized, the next step will be to determine how to best utilize the site and design the facility. The City is optimistic for a potential groundbreaking in 2023 or soon thereafter.