HomeMy WebLinkAboutLaurel Urban Renewal Agency Minutes 04.20.2009MINUTES
LAUREL URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY
APRIL 20, 2009
THE OWL CAFE - 203 E. MAIN STREET
Members present: Shirley McDermott, Dirk Frickel, Bill Kampfer, Daniel Klein
Advisors present: Steve Zeier
Others present: Bill Sheridan, Mary Embleton, Cynthia Ware, James Caniglia
Last weeks meeting with Harry Gottwals was very enlightening, advised us to find
someone like him with a vested interest & the time. Work at least 20 hours/week. He
worked thru the 1) Montana Mainstreet Program 2) establishing relationships w/lead
industries. Try to get the local paper to do an article - Make friends with the media.
Get and have on hand
1) budget of Laurel
2) Capital improvement plans
3) Staffing charts
Get 1) opinions before projects 2) surveys on all kinds of groups
Laurel Alive projects: Locomotive, Caboose, both a little early for Urban Renewal to get
involved in. Keep thinking of sponsors even in a tough economy, find out artists &
architects who would be willing to donate to Laurel.
Streetscape -- use it as a "plan" not as fact. It is now 8 or so years old but it is something
to have the community rally around.
Presentation to City Council - visual and audio is still a few weeks away
Replacement advisor might be Greg Kaiser from Yellowstone Bank
New Business--Bill Sheridan knows of many projects needed in the city. City Council
has delegated powers to the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency, use Bill Sheridan to gather
information and receive direction from him. Keep council members Doug and Emily
advised of needs and projects.
Caboose project, Railroad needs to give approval, contact Linda Frost and Joe Gentry
Project we need to react to very soon is the rebuilding of Main street and helping pay for
water and sewer to go to the far side of Main. City needs to get approval of the Railroad
to help develop their property.
TIF $ can be set aside to help with helping improve store fronts
Paving of street in front of Ace Hardware, the car dealerships and other stores will cost
$280,000 and as of this date there is no financing in place following the rebuilding of the
storm sewers last year. The SID - Special Improvement District may need to participate
in getting this street paved.
Mary Hamilton told us we have about $170,000 committed to the Laurel Urban Renewal
Agency of which $77,781 is committed to the storm sewers. New valuations show an
increase of $40,000 increasing our revenue to $210,000. In the bank we currently have
approximately $128,900 not obligated. Every Jan 1 properties get a new basis for taxing.
Market values go up with such things as street improvements. She said financials are
available monthly if needed.
New lights are not planned with the street rebuilding. Northwest Energy owns the lights
in Laurel but the city owns the ones in the downtown area.