Region Five Development Commission

NEW! - Economic Development Director: Lee Miller, By Cheryal Lee Hills

2008-06-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce that Region Five has a new Economic Development Director, Lee Miller. Lee comes to us with economic development experience from the City of Hutchinson and community development from the City of Avon. Lee has participated in the City of Rice downtown visioning sessions and has completed several research projects. Lee graduated from St. Cloud State with a Bachelor of Arts in Community Development.

Lee grew up in rural Minnesota and has first-hand knowledge of the challenges and advantages of small rural communities. Between work and life experiences we are confident we have selected a well-rounded person.

I am excited to watch Lee meet his potential at Region Five. In addition to the regular day-to-day work, Lee has already begun to work on projects such as the Wadena County Economic Development Coordinator Feasibility Study, applications to re-capilize our Revolving Loan Fund and rewriting our Revolving Loan Plan.

There is no shortage of work to be done to assist our region’s economic development efforts and I am confident Lee will assist our team in meeting the Region Five mission.

Please contact Lee by email about your economic development needs at lmiller@regionfive.org and please help me welcome Lee to our region.

BUILD SMART SUMMIT - by Cheryal Lee Hills

2008-04-02T14:31:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

We are busy preparing for the Build Smart Summit which gets more interesting each day.

It is so important when promoting this Summit to relate why it is we put this event on. We learned from the Fairview Office Park case study the savings of Low Impact Development (LID) and Conservation Designed alternatives to traditional construction methods. Yes..... I said....SAVINGS.

Janelle Riley, one of the owners of the Fairview Office Park, never dreamed that these building concepts would show such a quick return on investments. Both of us thought these concepts would COST her more money. We thought this because that's the message that the building industry is taught and tells consumers.

After two years of crunching numbers (Janelle is a CPA and actually likes this) we can prove she will save over $30,000 per year when comparing her site systems and techniques to traditional building methods. OK, so this is the message we need to be telling business people and consumers. This is BIG.

We should "go green" for environmental reasons and more, now we a positive fiscal reason. I'm so excited to learn more.

Region Five along with our partners and the sponsors of this event have given you an opportunity to learn about "green" building of communities and developments within communities. The information regarding the BUILD SMART SUMMIT is below.

I hope many of you are able to attend this event.

Peace, Cheryal Lee Hills

BUILD SMART SUMMIT
Focusing on central MN counties of Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena. When and

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008, & Thursday, May 1, 2008
Madden’s on Gull Lake, Brainerd MN.

Presenters: Nationally recognized lecturers: Randall Arendt, Patrick O’Malley, and Ed VonThoma. State known and respected speakers: Dr. John Gulliver UMN, Don Burger MPCA Local expert presenters: Dann Siems, Tim Ramerth, Janelle Riley, Phil Hunsicker.

Registration: This summit is being offered for a $89.00 registration fee for both days (includes morning break and lunch) download registration form at http://www.regionfive.org/ or call 218.894.3233 to request mailed registration forms.

Register by April 15th to reserve your space.

Contact; Maddens on Gull Lake 1.800.247.1040 for lodging rates and reservations. (lodging not included in registration fee)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.regionfive.org/ or 218.894.3233

BUILD SMART SUMMIT - by Cheryal Lee Hills

2008-02-20T15:30:00.000-08:00

OK,
So my very first Blog was a complete failure. However I did learn alot and I'll try and try again.

There are so many programs at Region Five that I could go on for days, so I'll try to be specific, informative and personal.

Below is an event flier for a summit being hosted by Region Five and many other groups witin the region. So I've been told a "conference" is a one day event and a "Summit" is a two day event. Thus....we're holding a Summit.

It's actually turning out to be a wonderful agenda that we are all very excited about. Some additional interesting news is that townships may have an opportunity to receive $2,500. from the Initiative Foundation to attend this Summit and other educational workshops.

This short message outlines the Initiatve Foundation opportunity:

From the Initiative Foundation:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Rural Community Development Initiative has small grants available to rural low-income communities seeking to build the capacity of elected & appointed officials and community staff . Most cities and townships in Morrison, Todd, Crow Wing, Cass and Wadena Counties would qualify for this support, which is administered by the Initiative Foundation. If you are interested in these funds -- which could be used to help cover scholarships to this conference as well as to implement any ideas your community chooses to adopt -- please contact Don Hickman (dhickman@ifound.org) or Dan Frank (dfrank@ifound.org) by April 1, 2008 so that they may assist you in processing the appropriate paperwork. Communities could send teams including planning commission/board of adjustment members, planning department staff (if applicable), City/township clerks, economic development professionals, or other volunteers, but teams must include at least one elected official. Qualifying communities may be eligible for up to $2,500 upon completion of a three-hour program orientation to be scheduled at the Initiative Foundation sometime in mid-April.

BUILD SMART SUMMIT
Focusing on central MN counties of
Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena.

When and Where:
Wednesday, April 30th, 2008, & Thursday, May 1, 2008
Madden’s on Gull Lake, Brainerd MN.

Who Should Attend:
Ø County, City and Township board and staff members.
Ø Municipality Administrators
Ø Municipality Planners & Zoning departments.
Ø Local Policy makers, local elected officials.
Ø Developers, Builders, Contractors.
Ø Architects, Engineers.
Ø Lenders
Ø Appraisers
Ø Real Estate Brokers & Sales Persons
Ø Interested general public
Architects, Engineers and other professionals who could benefit from Professional Development Hours (PDH’s) or Continuing Educational Units (CEU’s) will be given a Continuing Education Certificate upon request.

Thursday, May 1,2008: 7 hours of approved continuing education course instruction from the Department of Commerce for Realtor credit and the Department of Labor for contractor credit pending.

Why Attend:
Day 1: DISCOVERING OPPORTUNITIES IN BUILDING CONSERVATION DESIGNED COMMUNITIES WILL BE EXPLORED.
Community Development is changing at a rapid pace. Speakers will discuss why conservation development is needed, why it benefits communities and how local units of government can implement conservation design strategies. The presentation will include case studies and issues effecting water quality, downtown and residential development.

Day 2: GAIN INSIGHT OF HOW TO APPLY CONSERVATION DESIGNED CONCEPTS TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
With energy costs rising, consumers are seeking energy-efficient designs, materials and methods in construction of their homes and businesses. Learn more about the latest techniques for high performance design and construction, find out more about sustainable, “green” building and energy efficient design. Review local commercial low impact development project challenges and successes.

Presenters:
Nationally recognized lecturers: Randall Arendt, Patrick O’Malley, and Ed VonThoma.
State known and respected speakers: Dr. John Gulliver UMN, Don Burger MPCA
Local expert presenters: Dann Siems, Tim Ramerth, Janelle Riley, Phil Hunsicker.

Exhibitors and Give-aways:
Visit over 40 Exhibitors offering conservation related products and services including heating and cooling systems and innovative lending packages designed for “green’ building projects. In addition to other prizes, Build Smart Summit sponsors will be giving away several Building Better Homes series disc sets, featuring 6 hours of building science material valued at $295 to attendees.

Registration:
This summit is being offered for a $89.00 registration fee for both days (includes morning break and lunch) register online at http://www.regionfive.org/ or call 218.894.3233 to request mailed registration forms. Register by April 15th to reserve your space. Contact; Maddens on Gull Lake 1.800.247.1040 for lodging rates and reservations. (lodging not included in registration fee)

BUILD SMART SUMMIT Agenda:
DAY 1: Wednesday April 30th, 2008

7:30 AM – 8 AM REGISTRATION/SIGN IN
8 AM – 9 AM Continental Breakfast – visit exhibitors
9 AM – 10 AM "Going with the flow (regime): enhancing water quality by naturalizing run-off"–

Dann Siems
10 AM – Noon Community Conservation Design Approaches– Randall Arendt
Noon – 12:45 PM Lunch and visits to exhibitors
12:45 PM – 1:45PM LID PerformanceAssessment -Dr. John Gulliver -UMN
1:45 PM - 2:30 PM Case Studies – Don Burger MPCA, City of Hanover (to be determined)
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM BLACC - Sensitive Lands Mapping - Phil Hunsicker
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM Break, visit exhibitors
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM Commercial/Downtown Redevelopment – Randall Arendt

Thursday, May 1,2008: 7 hours of approved continuing education course instruction from the Department of Commerce for Realtor credit and the Department of Labor for contractor credit pending. (No energy/building, code, lead abatement, fair housing or agency law courses are offered at this event) Credit is not earned for allocated breaks

DAY 2: Thursday, May 1, 2008

9 AM – 3 PM High Performance Green Construction Overview- Parts I, II & III.
Ed VanThoma and Pat O’Mally, Building Knowledge Inc.

8 AM – 9 AM Continental Breakfast – visit exhibitors

9 am – Noon High Performance Green Construction Overview- Part I
· Introduction
· Define today’s construction industry
· What is a “Better Built, Green Construction”
· 5 min. definition of “LEED”
· Basic Building Science

Noon – 1 PM Lunch and visits to exhibitors

1 PM – 2 PM High Performance Green Construction Overview- Part II
· Issues affecting green building
· High performance building techniques
· How to conduct a structural energy audit

2 PM – 3 PM High Performance Green Construction Overview- Part III
· How to sell Green
· Developing your communication process
· Closing comments

3 PM – 3:30 PM Break, visit exhibitors

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Strategies for Low Impact Development – Tim Ramerth, Westwood
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Fairview Office Park Case Study: Costs and Benefits of sustainable Development – Janelle Riley, Syvantis Technologies

Micropolitan Planning status report - By Cheryal Lee Hills

2008-02-08T11:53:00.000-08:00

Region Five Development Commission Micropolitan planning status report

Funding efforts for outlined initiatives:
*Funding from Legislature for planning initiatives failed
*Met with several funding agencies to identify where potential funding might be available.
*Wrote and submitted 3 grants - two denied, one approved. Can resubmit one at later date.

Misc. initiatives:
*Gathering comp plans to R5DC website for common location of neighboring plans.

*Gathering information regarding the 2012 requirements for 800MHZ Police, Fire, Ambulance, Dispatch, Schools, Hospitals and Public Works communication systems. If this is a requirement Region Five will be seeking funding for region.

*Developing a database of all economic development organizations within region to improve publicity of ED groups and will post on R5DC website and made available to others who wish to post list. R5DC staff visit over 18 Cities in 2008 and attend all 5-county township association meetings, have published a quarterly regional township newsletter and will promote this ED organizational list at all of the above opportunities.

Transportation initiatives:
*I pulled together planners and Engineers for Micropolitan Transportation Planning efforts, Chris and Lyndon Co-Chair this taskforce, they have met 3-4 times now. They are working on an RFP and funding options in partnership with Brainerd Lakes Chamber to hire an outside consultant to develop a Micro-T Plan.

*This Micro-T Plan would include an access management policy and would direct future land use strategies that would consider setting aside needed land for solid waste/waste water processing.

*R5DC is in process of discussion of creating a regional trails mapping inventory. This should aid region in future trails planning. Pending approval of Transportation Advisory Council.

MN BUILD SMART.ORG initiatives:
*Three parts to site: Consumer, Contractor/Developer, LUG. Utilizing case study data, sample LID & Conservation ordinances (MPCA/1000 Friends/others), LEED information. Objective is to provide enough information to see more of this type of development throughout region. Invite all to meeting on 2/22/08 9am @ Arb for website review.

*BUILD SMART SUMMIT. April 30th, May 1. Randall and BKI speakers, Exhibitors, CEU credit for builders and realtors, LUG partnership with IF. Planning of this event is a partnership of SWCD/Extension spin off group, Micropolitan planning storm water taskforce, Fairview/R5DC project. Expect future educational workshops as a result of this summit.

R5DC Future Objectives/initiatives:
*Will utilize planner to create:
1. sample comp plan template of areas to consider when planning
2. Consistent set of comprehensive plan and ordinance terms that reflect a standardized set of definitions.
3. Model waste water management plan for incorporation into comp plans.
Communicate with all Micropolitan LUG with goal of consistency of water management plans.

Note: Current awarded grant funding will fund 60% time of a full time planner to work on the Micropolitain planning efforts through the USDA/IF grant, the Brainerd Chamber contribution and the Region Five Development Commission contributions. This funding covers all payroll and indirect expenses. I'll either need to find a bit more to support the direct expenses or reduce the hourly rate of pay.

*Seeking funding to develop a website to post all ED information and one database driven form for regional/State/Federal gap financing options, this would be another great location to promote the regions ED organizations and groups.

*Work with new Crow Wing County Administrator to achieve county wide adoption and enforcement of International Building Code.

Micropolitan planning initiatives not being addressed by R5DC (some of which are being done by Crow Wing and Cass counties):
*Adoption of “no net loss” policy for public lands.
*Develop permanent dedicated funding options for the purchase of and maintenance of public lands.
*Continue to recruit potential firefighters throughout the region.
*Coordination of Micropolitan GIS database from the two counties.
*Support independent audits of sustainable forestry practices on public lands.

Regional Transportation Updates

2008-01-15T08:20:00.000-08:00

By Chris Etzler, Transportation Planning Director

Welcome to my first attempt at a "blog". When I asked, "What do I write about"? I was told whatever is on my mind. That could be real scary!

So what is on my mind? School Transportation.

A report released last month by the office of Minnesota Legislative Auditor James Nobles on schol district student transportation concluded that most Mnnesota school districts adequately oversee their student transportation operations, but others do not, and bettter local and state level oversight is needed.

For many years I've spoken of concern with the operation of many rural school transportation systems. This is many times through no fault of their own. Many small school districts are forced to assign a principal or some other administrator as the "Transportation Director". Though highly qualified to be a principal, are they qualified to oversee the districts transportation?

As funding becomes more scarce, where are districts cutting?

I recently completed a Transportation Emergency Plan for Staples/Motley School District. I'm currently in the process of developing a program to assist rural school districts in their areas of need. Please check back as I will have more on this topic.

To view the audit... http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/ped/2008/studenttrans.htm

I invite you to share your thoughts or comments.

Have a wonderful weekend.