Council sets hearing for JOBZ applications

Applicants are Beacon Promotions, Windings

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Public hearings were set by the City Council for the two latest Job Opportunity Building Zone business subsidy applicants after the council discussed possible changes in language regarding average wage and benefits at its Tuesday meeting.

Both the JOBZ business subsidy applications of Windings, Inc. and of Beacon Promotions, Inc. will be the subject of hearings at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 17.

City Manager Brian Gramentz outlined the language changes as separating the average wage that the council is seeking from benefits.

"Instead of having $10 an hour in average wage and benefits, which could mean $6-an-hour jobs and $4 in benefits, the new language would have $10 in average wage, for example, and the benefit amount would be separate," Gramentz explained.

The Windings proposal provides for an increase of one, full-time equivalent job while maintaining the 85 current jobs. The Beacon Promotions agreement promises an increase of four jobs over its current 50-job level.

Plat approval

The council approved final plats for Ridgeview Estates Third Addition, 806-900 Cottonwood Street, and Valley Heights Fourth Addition, 1440 Westridge Road.

The Ridgeview Estates platting combines six lots of Block 1, Ridgeview Estates Second Addition into one lot in Block 1, Ridgeview Estates Third Addition. for a single-family condominium project on the north side of Cottonwood Street, south of the Cottonwood River and east of the former Poor Farm building.

The Valley Heights platting creates one lot, totaling 2.36 acres, located west of North Highland Avenue, on the north side of Westridge Road and U.S. Highway 14 and west of Schuck Chevrolet.

Assessment contract

A three-year contract with Brown County for providing property assessment services to the city was approved by the council. Under its provisions, the city would pay the county $68,644 in 2005, $71,390 in 2006 and $74,245 in 2007.

In other action, the council:

* Approved an ordinance repealing provisions establishing a minimum distance between group residential facilities for challenged residents.

* Authorized the New Ulm Police Department to participate in the "Safe and Sober Communities project sponsored by Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety for another year, starting Oct. 1.

* Approved the release of $16,903 from the escrow account for the Sales Tax Referendum Projects to Heymann Construction Company. The company had requested the release of $35,403, but Gramentz said there were still some items to be resolved at the Community Center and Civic Center. There is approximately $40,000 remaining in that account.

* Reduced Conservation Solutions, Inc.'s $305,883 contract to restore Hermann by $3,224 because the firm is going to use a less abrasive material, and, therefore, less expensive, to remove Hermann's tarnish.

Ron Larsen can be reached at rlarsen@nujournal.com.