Moorhead City Council Meeting
September 22, 2014
Public Hearing: MIG Entertainment Group
The Council approved an estimated $96,000 in property tax exemptions for the construction and operation of a multi-venue entertainment complex within the existing retail center located at 824-830 30th Avenue South.
Representatives from the All Star Bowl and the Sunset Lanes both of Moorhead spoke against the incentive package because of unfair treatment to the competition. The following decision indicated that all businesses that are expanding or forming are eligible for the same incentives.
Entertainment Group LLC, proposed the development of a large portion of the strip retail center located just off 30th Avenue South. The project is to construct and operate multi-venue facility within the existing retail center a venue much like a Dave & Buster’s. The facility would include an “Americana-style”sports bar, grill, and Brewery, video gaming room, 14 Brunswick bowling lanes with full bar-restaurant service, enclosed 2-story laser tag, and a small banquet room for corporate events and parties. The total facility is 35,000 square feet. This state of the art facility would act as destination within the region; nothing like it currently exists in the FM Metropolitan area. The project will be managed by Turfaway Entertainment Management Group, a national consulting group which has many years of experience in the field, and will manage the design, construction, setup, and training for the project as well as day-to-day operations after opening.
The City Assessor has estimated the new assessed building value to be approximately $1,200,000. Construction of the project will begin in October 2014 with an estimated completion of March 2015. The consultant’s model anticipates hiring seven management positions and a combination of over 100 full and part-time positions.
Public Hearing: Warren Zaffke, AZ Equity LLC
The Council approved an application for a $31,500 property tax exemption to construct Phase I of a two-phase multi-family residential complex. It will consist of two 42-unit, 3-story apartment buildings and two 36- unit, 3-story apartment buildings located at the northeast corner of 14 Street South and Belsley Blvd. There will be off street parking, parking garages, water retention pond, and a playground. The buildings will be a mix of efficiency, one, two and three bedrooms. Phase I consists of one 42-unit apartment complex with 23 double-stall garages, 19 single stall garages, and one maintenance garage.
The City Assessor has estimated the new assessed building value to be approximately $3,150,000. Construction of the project will begin in fall 2014 with an estimated completion of spring 2015.
2014 Tax Levy and 2015 Budget
The Council passed the tax levy and the 2015 $73 million budget 7-1 with Council Member Brenda Elmer voting No. She expressed concern with the “tipping point” for the Moorhead residents to consider moving out of the area. Elmer and fellow Council Member Gehrtz expressed that a closer examination of the budget for savings should be conducted. By Minnesota statute, the budget may be reduced but not increased until December 8.
The proposed 14.4% increase is projected to raise $1.2 million. However, it was pointed out that removing several items such as the Oakport addition and the new construction, the cost to the average resident would be lower. The increase to existing residents will be $37 on the annual property tax bill for the median-valued $144,900 home, according to Finance Director Wanda Wagner.
MSU Moorhead Celebrates Dragon Pride at Homecoming & Presidential Inauguration
Minnesota State University Moorhead will celebrate dragon pride during its annual homecoming celebration Sept. 22-28 with a wide variety of student, alumni and community events to coincide with the presidential inauguration of Anne Blackhurst.
Distinguished alumni being honored this week will talk about “Lessons Learned” to students and community members at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 in the Center for the Arts Gaede Stage.
The presidential inauguration of Anne Blackhurst is at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26 followed by a reception. Both events will be in the Center for the Arts. A viewing party will be held on the campus mall.
The homecoming parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 and is followed by tailgating and the 2 p.m. football game against Sioux Falls.
An academic symposium, a chili feed competition, ribbon-cutting of the remodeled library, and home soccer and volleyball games, plus many more activities cap off the weeklong festivities.
For details on homecoming events visit mnstate.edu/homecoming. For details on inauguration events visit mnstate.edu/inauguration.
“Not So Silent” Art &
Historic Book Auction
Slated for October 4 at Moorhead Public Library
The second annual “Not So Silent” Auction, a fundraiser supporting the Lake Agassiz Regional Library (LARL) system, will be held on Saturday, October 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Moorhead Public Library located at 118 5th St S.
The public is invited to the Auction, which features a wine tasting sponsored by Cash Wise, live music by The Almost There Not-Quite-Quartet out of Minneapolis, a book sale of new & used books, and a silent auction of artwork and historic books (cash or check only for all sales, please bring ID).
Pre-registration is recommended. You can pre-register at the Moorhead Public Library or at the door, starting at 6:45 p.m., October 4. To find out more, contact Jenny Rodger, Moorhead Public Library Public Services Supervisor at 218-233-7594 or visit www.larl.org.
There will be an art preview from Saturday, September 27 through October 3 at the Moorhead Public Library. Starting bids will be listed; however, bidding will not begin until 7 p.m. on October 4.