At Tuesday’s regular Cohasset City Council meeting, the Cohasset City Council approved the request for proposal (RFP), for engineering firms to complete a preliminary engineering report for a 30,000 square foot industrial warehouse and office building in phase two of the Cohasset Industrial Park.
“Right now we are working through a process to apply for a federal EDA [economic development authority] grant. Because we are a utility city, and we experienced deconditioning of previously existing coal fire power plants,” Cohasset Finance Manager/Director of City Operations Max Peters said.
The grant could potentially fund 80% of the project.
According to the agenda, the project must follow 2 CFR 200 guidelines. All inquiries concerning the RFP should be directed to Peters.
As things stand, there isn’t any leasable storage in the Industrial Park. The project is a $2.5 million Industrial Park building. The feasibility study was approved at the Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 council meeting.
“And we already have someone that wants to lease it,” Councilor Terry Bartz said.
“From day one, this will be a wealth-building project for the City of Cohasset,” Peters said.
“So it’s a good deal for the city,” Bartz said.
“We really aren’t looking at any costs for this part of the project,” Peters said.
RFP’s must be submitted by Friday, March 6, 2020 by 11 a.m.
In other business, the council:
• Approved the City Office remodel bid for $1,600 from Tom Berg.
“Looking at what our options are, we have a little side closet in the right of the entry door,” Peters said.
“It’s a lot cheaper than remodeling that storage room,” Councilor Tim Carlson added.
“We’re trying to make space for everybody,” Peters said.
• Approved the request for Cohasset Zoning Officer Greg Tuttle to attend the Minnesota Clerks and Finance Officers Association (MCFOA) region three training with registration being $30 and approval includes mileage and per diem.
• Approved the request for Deputy Clerk Treasurer Dorie LaShomb to attend the MCFOA annual conference. Registration is $445, with applicable mileage and per diem.
• Approved Cohasset Mayor Greg Hagy to attend the 2020 Minnesota Mayors Association Annual Conference.
• Approved a mutual aid agreement between Deer River and the City of Cohasset for Deer River to use the bucket truck to take down Christmas decorations. As for this time, Cohasset will be operating the machinery.
“We lost a truck last week,” Mayor Hagy said. “We are actually two trucks short.”
Three different quotes were presented to the council, with Lakewood Chrysler Dodge being the lowest bidder for the two trucks the City needs.
• Approved claims in the amount of $178,051.97; the minutes from the Feb. 11, 2020 regular meeting; as well as the cemetery deed for Bernadine Mann.
• Heard a report that the Cohasset skating rink is closed, due to poor ice conditions.
All council members were present. There was no resident input.
