Brainerd City EDA reelects officers, amends bylaws to name community development director as executive director

The Brainerd City Economic Development Authority re-elected its current chair, vice chair and secretary and approved a bylaws amendment on March 6 that names the community development director as the EDA's executive director.

The action came during the authority’s annual meeting. After a nomination motion to keep the three positions the same passed by voice vote, the board considered a proposed wording change in the bylaws to make the community development director the EDA executive director instead of the city administrator. James Kramvik, the city’s community development director, said, “It’s become, certainly a passion of mine and would welcome that opportunity.” The board moved and seconded the change and approved it by voice vote.

Board members also discussed meeting-schedule language in Article 3, section 2 of the bylaws and asked staff to return with revised wording so the schedule can be set at the start of each year rather than a fixed calendar. The bylaws as presented were then approved by voice vote.

Several routine items were approved by voice vote, including the consent calendar and the agenda. No roll-call vote tallies were given for the voice votes recorded in the minutes.

Discussion vs. decision: the bylaws amendment is a formal change approved by the EDA. The meeting-schedule language was identified for further staff review and was not amended beyond the single approved change naming the community development director as executive director.

The board did not set detailed implementation steps for the new executive role during the meeting; staff and commissioners asked only that the change be reflected in the bylaws and that meeting-schedule language be revisited at a future meeting.

The EDA chair called the meeting adjourned after routine staff reports and member updates.