City commissioners agree to offer roughly $190,000 in grant funds to secure Tractor Supply

Commissioners at a city workshop on Tuesday agreed to direct staff to offer roughly $189,000–$190,000 in remaining outdoor recreation grant funds to help secure a Tractor Supply retail store for the city.

The funding decision followed months of site selection and talks with the developer, a broker and the property's owner. Jeff (committee member) opened the discussion by praising staff work: "Andrew has done a fantastic job" coordinating broker, corporate and contractor contacts, he said. Andrew (community development director) told commissioners the grant balance "It's at 190. Yeah, about 189 and five." Commissioners treated that figure as the working total for a local incentive.

Why it matters: Staff said the developer estimates a roughly $8 million build and that the store could bring new jobs, utility revenue and an estimated gross receipts tax benefit. Commissioners cited a staff projection that retail receipts in the first full year could generate about $200,000 in GRT if sales approach the $5.8 million figure discussed in the packet.

What staff said: Joanie relayed an email from Carmen at DFA (the state agency overseeing the grant) saying the remaining outdoor recreation funds could be applied to retail uses if the expenditures qualify. Joanie said Carmen "copied her boss," and summarized the guidance: "As long as it's used for retail, then Tractor Supply will work," giving staff more flexibility to obligate the money without drawing from the city's general fund.

Site, utilities and cleanup: Staff described a site-selection process that narrowed six candidate parcels to three and said corporate and the broker favored the current parcel. The contractor/owner (7B) and corporate intend to advance the project; Solder Miller and Associates has been retained for surveying. Staff said the developer had completed a DOT-required site threshold analysis and access permit, and that Solder Miller would widen and deed part of Rio Grand to the city as part of construction.

Commissioners and staff discussed infrastructure elements the city might include in a development agreement: paving North and South Rio Grand, median beautification, moving a fire hydrant that sits in a sidewalk and undergrounding an overhead electric line. Staff estimated undergrounding could cost on the order of $70,000–$80,000. On demolition, staff said an owner-provided quote had previously been about $175,000 but that a combined demo-and-abatement scenario discussed in the wish list could reach roughly $250,000 (including an estimated $50,000 for abatement and air monitoring); staff told the commission the abatement cost was included in the higher estimate.

Procedural next steps: Commissioners agreed to instruct staff to make the offer using the remaining grant funds and to close out the grant so the state cannot reallocate it. Andrew said the developer planned a plan submittal around Sept. 12 and aimed to break ground in mid-October; county building staff had preliminaries in hand and staff expected permitting to move quickly once applications were submitted. Joanie said the city would obligate funds by task and phase and would reimburse the developer after state notice to obligate funds is issued.

What wasn't decided: The commission did not take a formal recorded vote or adopt an ordinance; the meeting resulted in direction to staff and consensus to make the offer and pursue a development agreement with conditions the city requires. Commissioners requested staff report back with the developer's response and any final terms.

The workshop ended with staff confirming they would prepare paperwork and notify commissioners when corporate responds.