Economic Development Committee

Minutes 06/16/10 (44 KB)

Members present: Marty Krueger, Joel Gaalswyck, Shawn Posewitz, Kathy Zowin, Gerald Lehman, Peter Murray

Members absent: Shawn Posewitz, Don Stevens

Others present: Kathy Schauf, Bill McClary, Joe Van Berkel, Bob Gavin, Harley Judd, Dale Moore, Tom Fiese – Fiese Auction Service  representative, Bill Lowe - Ho-Chunk Nation representative, Bryce Hanson, Ruth Dawson, Buddy Daugs, Rod Hannon

The meeting was called to order and certification of Open Meeting compliance was given at 7:00 p.m. The agenda was approved on a motion by Murray, second by Gaalswyk. Motion carried.

The minutes from the prior meeting were approved with a motion by Zowin, second by Gaalswyck. Motion carried.

Public Comment

None

Communications

Update on date for special meeting with rail stakeholders – date scheduled is Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.

Business Items

Discussion on the Wisconsin Economic Summit Series

Peter Murray (6/29 and 8/26) and Kathy Zowin (10/5) will attend and apprise the committee of outcomes.

Discussion of Health Care Center property and farm

Bob Gavin of Gavin Realty – unique property. Offered in parcels. Lot of road frontage. PUD’s or Planned Unit Developments are an option. The fairest and quickest way to sell it is at auction. With county zoning you would have to have 40 acres to build. Property is acceptable for multiple uses. Lends itself to division. Conservation easements would not devalue the property and would be appropriate for specific portions. It was noted that the Town of Reedsburg favors exclusive ag zoning. Noted that agricultural use of the land is ultimately the highest and best use of the ag land.

Buddy Daugs and Bryce Hansen of Judd Realty – recommend auction as type of sale. No disputes of value, everyone has a chance to bid, it is transparent, and all offers have no contingencies. Multi-parcel real estate auctions enable buyers to bid on individual parcels any combination or as a whole. Property is accessible and suitable for multiple uses. Recommend a live auction with cash transactions. Recoupment of costs is possible through parcel assessment. Question - What is the impact of a partial sale of the property? Answer – No impact, it will not decrease the value. With farmland / agricultural land the parcels need to be larger enough to attract bidders.

Dale Moore of Home Hunters Realty – Tenancy issues could be worked into sale documents. Auction is the best method, giving multiple choices for sale. Would sell the property by tax parcel, would not survey. Would leave as general ag with 35 acre minimum to build. Method of sale - can take any parcel you want, sell it by the acre. Potential issues with locating driveways. Question – Does the economy affect the sale of this property? Answer – Potentially. Unsure – but the property has value. Parcels are very marketable. Cash flow is a problem and affects ability to acquire loans.

Committee comment – desire to sell the property so that it ensures that it remains in farm production.

Richard Knuth of C&C Realty – Larger parcels formulated upon agricultural use. Four rod deeded access to the clay borrow pit area. Twenty (20) acres retained in county ownership. Workland should not be sold in small parcels. Property has value of approximately two (2) million. Workland is desirable as an asset. Recommend survey after the sale.

Additional research on the way in which the property could be sold is needed. The goal is to maintain it as agricultural land.

Van Berkel commented that the decision on whether or not to sell that land should be carefully considered. The land is representative of a variety of land types that are indicative of Sauk County. It has possibilities for a variety of future uses. Cautions against hasty decisions.

Economic Development Committee: Established mission, vision and goals.

Reviewed Rules of the Board description of the Economic Development Committee and composition. Relationship of the committee to other county committees and staff was reviewed. The focus of the committee is to work cooperatively to foster a climate for economic growth. Visioning and stakeholder input were reviewed and goals refreshed.

Next meeting date: June 30, 2010 to meet with rail stakeholders.

Motion by Gaalswyck, second by Murray, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted: Donald Stevens, Economic Development Committee Secretary