Pipestone, Minnesota
March 2, 2006
Pursuant
to due call and notice thereof, a Special Meeting of the
Pipestone City Council was duly held at the Nokomis Apartment
Building at 10:00 a.m. on the 2nd day of March 2006 to attend a
special meeting of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
Members present: Darrel Tinklenberg, Barbara Heyl and Harry
Hansen. Others present: Worthington HRA Representatives Deborah
Thompson and Rosie Rogers; Pipestone HRA Kim Smith and Rosalie
Brual; HRA Board Members Pat Beyers, Jean Haugen, Tom Winter,
Mark Steffan and Mark Onken; Linda Fritz; and City
Administrator/City Attorney Jeff Jones.
Tom Winter,
Chairperson of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, called
the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Winter stated that the
special meeting had been called to discuss the candidates for
the Executive Director position.
Pat Beyers stated that the HRA had interviewed three applicants
and that she wished to vote to select one of the three for the
position. Winter stated that he felt the HRA should consider
information obtained from the applicants references before
selecting a person for the position. Winter noted that the HRA
was described by HUD as a “high performer” and that the HRA
should proceed cautiously in selecting a new Executive Director.
Discussion then followed regarding the hiring of current HRA
staff members.
City Administrator/City Attorney Jones informed the HRA that the
City Council was meeting at 6:30 p.m. on March 2nd to
discuss the HRA and possible changes in the HRA structure. He
recommended that the HRA defer any action to fill the Executive
Director position until after that meeting.
Mark Steffan stated that he favored re-advertising the position.
Discussion followed as to additional ways to advertise the
vacant position.
Rosie Rogers, Worthington HRA, stated that the HRA should take
its time and advertise again. She also recommended that the HRA
conduct a workshop on how to work together.
Harry Hansen then stated that the City would like to see the HRA
assist the City to address blighted properties and to construct
a community center. Winter stated that currently all HRA funds
are programmed for specific cases. Winter stated that grant
programs through HUD may be available to address the blighted
properties issue.
Winter called for other questions or comments. There being none,
the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
Darrel Tinklenberg
Mayor
ATTEST:
Jeffrey
R. Jones
City
Administrator
Pipestone, Minnesota
March 2, 2006
Pursuant to due
call and notice thereof, a Special Meeting of the Pipestone City
Council was duly held in the
Municipal
Building
at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd day of March 2006. Mayor
Darrel Tinklenberg called the meeting to order. Roll call was
taken and a quorum was declared. Members present: Darrel
Tinklenberg, Barbara Heyl, Harry Hansen, Jim Keyes, and Jaimie
Sumption. Absent: None. Others present: Pay Beyers, Bill
Nibbelink, and City Administrator/City Attorney Jeff Jones.
City Administrator/City Attorney Jones informed the Council of
his conversation with Rick Goodemann of Southwest Minnesota
Housing Partnership. Goodemann stated that Marshall, Luverne and
Jackson currently have an EDA with HRA powers.
Jones then
introduced Bill Nibbelink of Flandreau. Nibbelink then addressed
the Council. Nibbelink stated that he had reviewed state law on
the topic of EDA’s with HRA powers. He said that the Council
had two options to consider:
1. Maintain HRA in its
current form.
2. Combine HRA and EDA
like approximately 40% of Minnesota Communities have
done.
Nibbelink stated that the City was ultimately responsible for
the HRA and its actions. The HRA is a political subdivision of
the City. Nibbelink cited
Minnesota
state law which establishes that HRAs can only be created by act
of the City.
In order to dissolve the current HRA, Council would have to
rescind the resolution which established the HRA.
Nibbelink described a number of programs that could be used to
address dilapidated housing and commercial properties.
Nibbelink
recommended that if the Council decided to combine the two, the
position of Executive Director should be advertised nationally.
He also recommended contacting other nearby communities that
have a combined EDA/HRA.
Nibbelink
estimated it would take 90-120 days to accomplish the change.
Nibbelink stated that if the City wished to take this step to
combine the HRA and EDA, the City had two options:
1. Hire an EDA/HRA
Director and then re-organize;
or
2. Begin the
re-organization while advertising for the Director.
Nibbelink recommended that there be a housing manager to manage
the housing inventory.
Nibbelink also pointed out that it was possible to form a
county-wide EDA/HRA at a future date.
Nibbelink recommended that the Council direct City
Administrator/City Attorney Jones to visit two or three cities
who have a combined EDA/HRA and report back to the Council.
Nibbelink also recommended that new Commissioners be given an
orientation session at their first meeting.
City Administrator/City Attorney Jones reported that the Mayor
and he did meet with Tom Winter, Chairperson of the Commission,
to express concerns of the Council that the HRA be involved with
blighted properties in town and with re-development of
commercial properties. Winter stated that all current HRA funds
were allocated for other purposes.
Nibbelink stated that the HRA could use Nokomis as an
asset/collateral to borrow funds for a revolving loan fund or to
fund first time homeowners or provide down payment assistance.
Nibbelink stated that he felt that this was a great opportunity
for the Council to combine two agencies.
City
Administrator/City Attorney Jones was directed to request the
HRA not to take any step to fill the position of Executive
Director at this time.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion
was made by Sumption, seconded by Keyes and unanimously carried to
adjourn the meeting at 8:21 p.m.
Darrel Tinklenberg
Mayor
ATTEST:
Jeffrey
R. Jones
City
Administrator
