Agenda Packets - 2005/06/27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council June 20, 2005 Special Meeting Page 3 increase to the taxpayers, but there was no promise to reduce the taxes. However, there might be 1 a reduction to the school referendums, which would amount to a couple of dollars a year. 2 3 Jim Bergales, 8400 Red Oak Drive, indicated the traffic had drastically increased and asked from 4 Highway 10 up to Red Oak Drive and County Road J, what would happen to that intersection. 5 He asked if there would be a freeway hookup. Vernon Swing, RLK, City Consultant who 6 prepared the AUAR, responded initially the intersection would change with additional turn lanes 7 provided as well as some modifications to the signal timing, but the intersection at County Road 8 J and Long would remain the same. 9 10 Jan Brenk, 7800 Gloria Circle, stated since Medtronic’s goal was to consolidate all of its smaller 11 companies at this site, she did not believe there would be any hiring because they would be 12 transferring employees. She asked what guarantee they had that Medtronic would not turn the 13 golf course into Medtronic’s private golf course. She asked if Medtronic had ever donated any 14 campaign funds to any Council Member. The Council Members/EDA Commissioners as a group 15 replied Medtronic had not given any campaign funds to them. 16 17 Ms. Brenk noted her family owned the land prior to the State and she was opposed to this 18 transfer. Ms. Kvilvang replied Medtronic would not be able to retain this as a golf course or they 19 would be in default and with respect to the hiring of employees, this would be a condition in the 20 Development Agreement. 21 22 Rodger McCombs, representing Medtronic, replied Medtronic would create the jobs they 23 indicated they would create. 24 25 Brian Knox, 2291 Knoll Drive, stated this “smacks of a sweetheart deal to the detriment of 26 Mounds View residents”. He suggested they put this land on the open market and Medtronic can 27 joint the open bidding at that time. He expressed concerns about the quality of life issues, the 28 noise, and the increase in traffic. He requested Council/EDA do the right thing for the citizens of 29 Mounds View. 30 31 John McKusick, 8465 Eastwood Road, expressed concern about the quality of life, the noise 32 pollution, air pollution, the increase in traffic, and the additional expense for police and fire. He 33 asked why they were selling this property so cheap and believed his property would not decrease 34 in value. He expressed concern about the increase in jet noise when they used the Blaine airport. 35 He stated he was against this proposal. 36 37 Rita Guzzetta, 7434 Knollwood Drive, stated she was a Medtronic employee and she purchased a 38 home in the City in anticipation of the Medtronic property being located in Mounds View. 39 40 Nancy Gollnick, 8085 Greenwood Drive, stated she was a former teacher in the City. She noted 41 Mounds View schools was running into difficult times and Medtronic had been a good friends to 42 Mounds View schools by providing funds to the science programs without any strings attached. 43 She believed Medtronic would continue to do this if they were located in Mounds View. She 44 stated the future of the company depended upon hiring well-educated people and the schools 45