Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

In a work session Monday afternoon, Rebecca Kurtz, Ehlers & Associates; Chris Eng, Chisago County HRA; Mayor Sheldon Anderson; CM Joe Zerwas; Attorney Tom Miller; Engineer Lee Elfering; and EDA members Dave Boniface, Paul Raduenz and Nate Wilner, met to modify the proposed tax increment finance district for the city.

As pointed out at the June 7th council meeting, not enough of the area in the proposed district met criteria of being developed. As suggested by Attorney Tom Miller, the group met to adjust boundaries of the TIF district.

Looking at city maps, Kurtz looked for areas with man-made improvements; buildings, streets, parking lots, etc. to include in the area.

Discussion was primarily about two things; the job done by the inspectors, Bonestroo, which was unsatisfactory, and expanding the TIF district to farther southward to meet the 70 percent developed criterion.

The main challenge, according to Miller is to meet the areas criterion first, then consider whether construction in the area is substandard.

Anderson was concerned the city was ìnot getting what we paid for.î

Dave Boniface, EDA chair, asked Kurtz if the TIF district had to be all in one piece.

One concern is if the area is expanded, would it mean re-inspection of the areas already evaluated. Another question was whether another company could or should be used.

Kurtz said it costs $300-$500 to inspect a parcel. A parcel is a piece of property with its own PIN.

Miller thought time would be saved by using the same company but having it make good on the incomplete inspections done previously. Time is a factor as well, he said.

By consensus, the group modified the district.

Some wetland north of Viking Blvd. was eliminated from the area and the boundaries extended south.

The area now extends from Fallbrook on the west and south to include high ground south of 264th St.

The eastern boundary is about one block east of Forest Blvd. and the northern section is the area owned by Stars and Strikes developers.

State statute says 70 percent of the area of the district must be occupied by buildings and streets, but in the area of Wyoming being considered, this is just under 24 percent, far short of the requirement. Inspection of the buildings can be completed.

Bonestroo is to be offered the chance to complete the inspection of this area, to make good on the job done on the first part of the project.

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