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1 <br />APPROVED <br />CITY OF LINO LAKES <br />ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT <br />ADVISORY COMMITTEE <br />MINUTES <br /> <br />DATE: September 2, 2010 <br />MEMBERS <br />PRESENT: J. Stranik, L. Masonik, B.Combs, K. Corson, <br />MEMBERS <br />ABSENT: B. Menke, D. Johnson, J. Schwartz, M. Keller <br /> <br />OTHERS <br />PRESENT: M. Divine, M. Grochala, Leonard Gandel, Anoka County United (part), Mr. <br />Karlson (part) <br /> <br />APPROVAL OF MINUTES <br />The Minutes of May 6, 2010 and June 3, 2010 were approved. <br /> <br />ANOKA COUNTY UNITED <br />Ms. Divine introduced Leonard Gandel, executive director of Anoka County United, a new <br />organization for promoting economic development in Anoka County. Mr. Gandel explained that <br />they are a 501C4 that sprang from the Viking stadium opportunity. The board is a partnership <br />with Anoka Area and MetroNorth Chambers. Funding has been from private sources, and the <br />board is making an effort to not ask for public funding. The mission is to be a centralized <br />resource to try to tie economic development work done by cities so that development stays <br />within Anoka County. They were recently the primary sponsor and fiscal agent for the Anoka <br />County tent at the 3M golf tournament. This group wants to supplement what the county and <br />cities are doing. Mr. Gandel noted that Anoka County has higher unemployment and lower <br />wages than the rest of the metro area. Anoka Ramsey Community College has the lowest <br />graduation rate of any college in Minnesota. These facts impact businesses’ decision to come to <br />the area. They are also working with local legislators to try to reduce the corporate income tax. <br /> <br />Ms. Divine gave Mr. Gandel a short review of the major project areas in Lino Lakes. Mr. Gandel <br />then left the meeting. <br /> <br />Members discussed whether connecting Lino Lakes as part of Anoka County was a benefit <br />considering some of the statistics that Mr. Gandel mentioned. Ms. Divine noted that there have <br />been several county economic development groups started up over the years that have failed, <br />which is why Anoka County may be gun shy in supporting this group. Mr. Stranik noted that this <br />group may be best for large projects that cross city boundaries. Lino Lakes has many advantages <br />that other cities do not, including higher income and education. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />