Atkinson while Joe Hennen was absent. Staff person Joe Heinen was also on hand.

Old Business

Industrial Park - the issue of a current Franklin Sign Co. lease, with options to extend the access to a billboard site on the current Middendorf Partnership lands were reviewed. The discussion focused around the need to extend some trade-offs with this firm in order to fully develop two of the planned lots while at the same time allow them to continue a 20 foot wide easement to the billboard site. After studying the map options laid out by Sam DeLeo of SEH Engineering, a motion was made by Hemker, s/Thelen, to direct the city to sell a small tract of land to Franklin Sign, with access easement, so that they would become taxpayers within the community. The motion carried, 4-0.

In a related matter, it was reported that a "notice of intent" to develop a lot within the park had been received by the city, after the clerk had written to Ellingson on March 21st.

The clerk also introduced a draft purchase agreement, apparently prepared by former clerk Anton Massman and the consensus was to have the city attorney review this docu-

ment before passing unto Ellingson. Hemker also suggested that a written time frame of events be prepared for the benefit of Ellingson after Heinen stated that Bolton & Menk had earlier indicated that the improvement plans and specifications would not be ready until the May 28th council meeting. The clerk agreed to speak to Engineer Rich Romness in an attempt to speed this process up.

Due to aprevious commitment, Jim Hemker excused himself at 1:05 P.M.

Pat Ellingson appeared along with one of employees to speak about his preference in buying Lot 2, after he was advised of the Franklin Sign situation. He was asked about the amount of funds he was willing to set aside for the land and assessments and stated that he was agreeable with $100,000 but would accept a limit of no more than $112,000, if the city had to impose this higher limit. He felt that the pending or estimated assessment were too high and asked for permission to have his staff speak to Romness about the water and sewer costs so that they could do their own calculations, and was told that this would not be a conflict of interest. He also stated that he had been told be Massman that his land costs would be no more than $8,000 but could not provide any written documentation. He indicated that he would not pursue any TIF assistance from the city and would prefer to construct his building while the road improvements were going on.

As an option, he also stated that the sale of the current Freeport Hardware building to the city was acceptable as a cash settlement.

New Business

Due to lengthy meeting, it was agreed that it would adjourned soon. Before doing so, however, the clerk gave the remaining members an update on the following:

  • sale of Lot 5, Block 1, Welle's Addition to Hennen Lumber with a correction needed to adjust the sale price down from $16,500 to $3,500 to be consistent with other similar sales (assessment of $13,000 was not factored)
  • pending sale of Lot 4, Block 2, Welle's Addition, also to Hennen Lumber for the same $3,500 sale price, with the assumption of $13,000 in assessments
  • provided a copy of all current owners of properties in Welle's Addition
  • revealed the collections of $27,000 this year for the above subdivision and also handed out a copy of the bonded debt schedule

With no further business to come before the group, the meeting was adjourned at 1:55 P.M. by unanimous consent.