By Robert Williams

Editor

viction proceedings are official, as announced by City Administrator Stephanie Poegel at the latest meeting of the Frazee Economic Development Authority (EDA) Tuesday, Oct. 27.

“The eviction is completed and Seip is no longer our tenant,” Poegel said.

The locks have been changed at the East Main Retail building and there are items remaining in the space that need to be removed and inventoried.

Poegel also discussed having conversations with interested parties about the space, one inquiring about opening a pharmacy. 

“Not sure if it’s something that works in our timeframe,” Poegel said.

One potential problem with this particular party is the space may be too large, Poegel added.

She has also continued conversations with existing pharmacy businesses noting two of the three discussions are ongoing.

Once the remaining inventory inside the former Seip space, including shelving units, is removed and stored there is a 60-day wait after notification to sell the items and charge storage fees.

The remaining balance of funds owed, including back rent and fees, to the EDA will likely have to be sought in conciliation court by City Attorney Patrick A. Bakken.

The EDA is also considering other options outside of a pharmacy, although there were not official discussions on that. The group is focused on emptying the building and preparing it for a new lessee.

Water softener

Some current East Main Retail building business owners have requested a water softener be installed in the East Main Retail building.

A search for a local water softener supplier to install a unit to provide softened water to each of the four tenants, along with salt delivery services, will begin soon.

“It’s a good idea just for infrastructure purposes,” said Council Liaison Drew Daggett.

Poegel will seek quotes for the project.

Lot splitting

The EDA approved a quit claim deed to split the city campground site, which will allow the EDA to deed the campground site to the city and put the remaining lot, which includes a portion of the hill by the clinic, up for sale. 

Discussions about selling settled on selling the property without representation over the winter and proposing bringing a realtor on board for the sale next spring, if necessary. The working timeline right now is March 1.

The lot was split to keep the sewer main on city property and the city will own and manage the campground and land all the way to County Road 10.

The saleable lot will remain with the EDA with hopes of a potential business acquiring the land.

The lot is zoned downtown commercial.

Lions building

The Lions Club building is up for sale and there have already been three interested parties contacting the city office, according to Poegel.

There are three owners of the currently zoned single-family, twin home property, who all have different interests. Discussions on zoning of the property were had at the Planning and Zoning meeting held Tuesday night.

“That, in and of itself, is going to make the difference on at least two of the three individuals who are looking to purchase on our end,” said Poegel.

Comp plan

The EDA also discussed updating or creating a new comprehensive plan for the city with issues such adding sewer/infrastructure to some properties, including county-owned properties. Another key issue is getting access to U.S. Highway 10 to try to increase businesses there.

“That’s a 10-year process, honestly,” said Poegel.

City hall remodel options is a long-running conversation that was also discussed, including expanding the building toward 3rd Street and creating a city council chambers.

Poegel mentioned repeating a task from her former position in Audubon with Frazee city council members after the election, asking each council rep for a list of five prioritized things to be accomplished during their term. 

The group would rank the 25 items until there are specifically-ranked positions on what the EDA should pursue.

“We got it down to five items,” said Poegel. “These are the top five things, as a council, that they want to see improved.”

The next EDA meeting is a working session on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 11:30 a.m. The meeting was moved one day due to Veteran’s Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in which the city offices are closed.