Cliff Buchan
News Editor

A short meeting Monday wrapped up the year for the city of Forest Lake Economic Development Authority Board.

Mondayís session was completed in just under 30 minutes, but the board took time to say goodbye to outgoing members and to authorize staff to draft a mutually agreed lease agreement for the EDA building at 280 W. Broadway Ave.

Prospective business owners Christine Ross and Sharon Stoltzman went before the board last month to discuss a lease agreement for the building where they propose opening a home accent store. They returned Monday and found the EDA favorable to moving ahead with a lease.

The two women originally requested a proposal that would call for a $20,000 to $25,000 lease holder investment in building improvements in lieu of lease payments.

EDA Attorney David Hebert said Monday if the plan was to move forward, it would be best to draft a lease agreement and allow the lease holders to take care of building improvements.

That recommendation followed a positive review by building department staff that determined the structure was OK for future use, EDA Executive Director Chip Robinson reported.

EDA President Ray Daninger said his main point of concern was the city renting the building when it may be direct competition to other privately owned properties in the city. Board member Tom Lynch favored the lease saying it was proper to collect some revenues while development plans for that commercial area take shape.

Lynch moved to authorize the attorney to draft the agreement contingent on a review of the property tax impact and other issues. Lynch questioned if the city needed to advertise the property for lease.

The vote was 3-0-1 to OK the draft of a short-term lease that is agreeable to both parties. Members Lynch, Bob Morehead and Glenn Neujahr were in favor. Daninger abstained. Member Judy Bull was absent.

ìI think your idea is great, donít get me wrong,î Daninger said, explaining why he abstained.

The new EDA board will act on the agreement in January. If approved, the two women said they would like to have the business open early next year.

New board coming

The EDA will have a major new look in 2005.

Daninger, who is leaving as mayor, will give up his seat on the EDA. Bull, who was elected to city council in November, is also expected to leave her post.

Lynch, who lost his bid for mayor, will also go off the EDA in 2005. Terry Smith, the successful candidate for mayor, will take over as president of the EDA next year.

Mondayís meeting was also the last for Neujahr who has resigned. He was thanked for his service at the close of Mondayís session.

When the council has its organizational meeting Monday, Jan. 10, Smith is expected to announce his recommendations for the new EDA board. In addition to the mayorís seat, one member of city council is named to the board.

The other three positions are at-large seats.

Beach House plan

The consensus of the EDA Monday was to relocate or remodel the Lakeside Park beach house as part of the downtown park redevelopment plan next summer.

Bill Sanders, city planning consultant, reported that a small facility with toilet facilities could be located either on the south end of the park near the swimming beach or on the north end of the park near the boat launch area.

ìI see it as a much simpler building that would have toilet facilities,î Sanders said during a review Monday. If the city desires showers for swimmers, outdoor facilities could be provided near the beach, he said.

If the EDA and city council agree to modify the park plan and remove the existing beach house, the decisions will be needed by March to give staff time to make the plan changes, Sanders said.

The idea of removing the 15-year-old beach house surfaced last month in a general discussion sparked by some comments from the community that the view of the lake is restricted by the building that sits on the east end of E. Broadway Ave.

With the park being changed, Sanders said now may be the time to consider a relocation or redesign that is more attractive, ìWe are looking at those possibilities,î he said Monday night.

Meeting note

Because of the Christmas and New Yearís holidays, the EDA meeting for Monday, Dec. 27 has been canceled.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605