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| Isanti earns award |
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| Wednesday, 07 May 2008 | |
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By Rachel Kytonen rachel.kytonen@ecm-inc.com Isanti has gained state-wide attention for its Ever Cat Fuels biodiesel facility project. Mayor George Wimmer announced Isanti won the Economic Development Association of Minnesota Business Recruitment award during the May 6 Isanti City Council meeting. Community Development Director Carla Vita said the business recruitment award is presented annually by EDAM, who received two to three times the amount of normal submissions. The city was notified it had won the award May 1 and will be presented the honor during a ceremony June 18, held during EDAM’s summer conference at Ruttger’s Bay Lodge in Deerwood, Minn. “This is a great opportunity for the city ... and a great testimony to what we do well in the city,” Wimmer said. “I would like to thank Ms. Vita, city staff and Landmark Community Bank for all their hard work on this project.” Ever Cat Fuels, who has a facility in Anoka, is building a production facility in Isanti that will be located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Isanti Parkway East and East Dual Blvd. The Isanti facility will be the first of its kind using the revolutionary “Mcgyan Process,” named after inventors Dr. McNeff, Dr. Arlin Gyberg of Augsburg College and Dr. Bingwen Yan. The Mcgyan Process is a new way to produce biodiesel in a fixed bed flow-through reactor that could change how the industry produces this renewable fuel. This technology was initially developed at the University of Minnesota by Dr. Peter Carr for separation science and then conceived of for biodiesel catalysis by Dr. Gyberg and Dr. McNeff. The key to this new technology is a highly efficient, heterogeneous metal oxide-based catalyst reactor that efficiently and economically coverts feedstock plant oils and animal fats to biodiesel. Revolving loan fund Vita explained at the Jan. 28 city council goal setting session, the council discussed a revolving loan fund as a tool for economic development purposes. Vita said the Isanti City Partnership met on the topic and created a subcommittee to prepare a memo on the matter with areas the city should address. Vita, together with Finance Director Rita Pierce, prepared the revolving loan fund policy using policies from different cities. The purpose of the policy is for the city to have the opportunity to provide short-term financing to assist businesses in the form of a loan. After discussion, the council unanimously approved the revolving loan fund policy and the transfer of $130,000 from Economic Development Authority funds to the revolving loan fund. The purpose of the financing is to provide gap financing where conventional funding sources are not sufficient to meet the businesses needs for new facilities, business retention, building purchase, renovation, expansion, landscaping, machinery and equipment. The objectives of the revolving loan fund are to create or retain permanent full-time jobs in the city; to improve the overall tax base of the city; to diversify the economy and to enhance the quality of life within the community. The policy noted the fund is intended to complement and not to compete with private lending institutions, and all loans are subject to the availability of funds. Nuisance properties By a 4-1 vote, with Wimmer opposed, the council approved using public works employees to handle the mowing of nuisance and foreclosed properties, with the condition the properties are mowed within seven days of receiving a complaint. City Administrator Don Lorsung said the public works committee recommended using public works employees to mow the lawns, and nuisance mowing would be done on a complaint basis, using the current process adopted by the council. The council did also approve the hiring of two part-time, seasonal public works staff that would assist with the mowing. During discussion, Wimmer voiced concerns with the time frame of getting the properties mowed using public works, and the cost involved with using city staff. Lorsung said public works will try to use seasonal staff for the mowing to help keep costs down, but said on occasion full-time staff may be used. Wimmer said based on a quote the city received from a firm willing to handle the mowing, it would cost less to outsource the mowing. “From a financial standpoint, the numbers are closer when using the two part-time employees,” Wimmer said. However, It won’t do us any good to do this internally if it takes a month to get the problem taken care of.” Council Member Alan Duff, who sits on the public works committee, said he likes the current nuisance ordinance that focuses more on the private sector taking care of the problem. “We have a process in place once we receive a complaint,” Duff said. “My hope is to get the private sector to become involved, but if a complaint is made we can start the communication process.” Lorsung said the city will continue to monitor the foreclosed properties, and will make efforts to contact the owners or stewards of the property to take care of the nuisance lawns. If the problem isn’t taken care of, the city will start the nuisance process. In brief • The council heard a presentation on its annual audit and were told all its major reserves have good reserves and were within average of other comparable cities. The council was also complimented for starting a long term financial planning process. • Wimmer noted the city is projecting a revenue deficit of $280,000. Wimmer, who serves on the finance committee, said the committee will start putting together a list of actions to balance the budget. He noted $260,000 of this deficit is due to unpaid property taxes by four of the city’s top 10 taxpayers, of which three are land developers. • Wimmer declared the week of June 8 Isanti Employer Week. He noted over 1,400 people work in the city of Isanti. A picnic celebration will be held downtown June 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each Isanti business will be given a personal invitation to attend the event. |
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