Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance And Procurement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Detroit Lakes Council approves TIF for Lincoln School redevelopment, funds for Washington Ballpark and multiple construction contracts
Summary
The council approved a $956,966 TIF assistance package for redevelopment of the former Lincoln School, approved $266,027 in additional funding for the Washington Ballpark and awarded multiple construction and renovation contracts, including library and pavilion work.
Detroit Lakes City Council voted to approve a set of development, procurement and funding actions at its meeting, including a tax-increment financing (TIF) development agreement for the former Lincoln School site and awards for parks and facility projects.
On the redevelopment item, Chairwoman Sprague summarized that the developer requested $956,966 in TIF assistance structured as a pay-as-you-go note to close a financing gap on an approximately $7.5 million redevelopment project; staff presented a financial analysis and a but-for test required for TIF eligibility. The council adopted a resolution approving the development agreement for TIF 1-1 following a committee recommendation.
On parks and capital projects, the council approved an additional $266,027 in permanent improvement funds for the Washington Ballpark project to cover items such as camera/security infrastructure, previously incurred predesign costs (about $109,000) and contingency. The council also accepted bids for Washington Ballpark Phase 2 and awarded the contract to Hauge (low bidder) and awarded the artificial turf purchase, as recommended by finance committee.
Other approvals included awarding bid package #1 for the pavilion project (demolition, site mobilization and a roofing down payment), accepting bids and awarding the library renovation contract (including accessibility upgrades and a new elevator) at a total project cost just over $1.4 million with a $750,000 state grant noted, and approving an easement encroachment agreement with Bergens Greenhouses for a decorative fence that encroaches roughly six feet into the public right-of-way.
Routine municipal items passed as well: a one-year park-use lease with Bad Medicine LLC for Orton Stone Gardens (nominal fee), a two-year facility-use agreement with the Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center for a proof-of-concept sailing school (no remodel authorization), acceptance of quotes for a two-year HVAC service contract contingent on contractor licensing, and approvals for several special-event applications including July 4 fireworks and Crazy Days.
What’s next: staff will manage contract execution and follow-up reporting per standard procurement practice; the finance committee will continue to monitor the Washington Ballpark budget and any required grant-match work for the Detroit Mountain Recreation Area item, which was deferred pending further review.
Quoted from the meeting: “The developer is requesting $956,966 in TIF assistance,” Hope said during the presentation on the Lincoln School redevelopment, and city administrator Kelsey Clem summarized that fundraising for Washington Ballpark had brought nearly $3 million to date but that the additional $266,027 would get the project to the finish line.
The council recorded these approvals by voice vote and moved on to remaining agenda items.
