Roger Davis, left, of Davis Outdoor Services, receives the Business Spotlight Award for April from Blue Earth EDA specialist Amy Schaefer, right.

A blustery Thursday morning warranted a brisk Blue Earth Economic Development Authority (EDA) board meeting on April 14.

The EDA board breezed through several agenda items, including a new Business Spotlight awardee, a Training Financing Program applicant and an updated settlement with APX Construction Group.

Roger Davis was present at the EDA meeting to accept the April Business Spotlight Award on behalf of his business: Davis Outdoor Services.

Davis shared the business, which specializes in tree removal and trimming, stump removal, mowing and snow removal, was created early in 2020.

“We’re really busy in the community,” Davis said. “Last year we started in early March, and we worked all the way to Dec. 1.” 

“We’re happy to help if you need to upgrade any of your equipment,” EDA specialist Amy Schaefer offered.

The EDA also awarded a Training Financing Program forgivable loan to Becky Krohnberg in the amount of $449.55.

Krohnberg, a pharmacy technician at Blue Earth Drug, will use the funds to partially finance a pharmacy technician course provided by TRC Healthcare, Inc.

The pharmacy technician course is a requirement for pharmacy technicians in the state of Minnesota.

The total cost of the course is $899.10. Apart from the EDA’s 50 percent match of $449.55, Blue Earth Drug will also contribute $225 to the cost of the course.

In a final piece of business, the EDA approved city administrator Mary Kennedy and EDA president Lissia Laehn to sign documentation related to an updated settlement between the city of Blue Earth and APX Construction Group.

The settlement involves construction on Rice Street townhouse properties.

Mayor Rick Scholtes explained the contents of the documentation.

“As you know, the HRA has been working on the town homes,” he said. “They ran into some troubles with APX, and have been working with a law firm. APX put out a proposal to the HRA, and they did accept it at their last meeting. The EDA is a part of it as well.” 

The documentation involves a total of $116,315 in fees which Blue Earth will pay to APX.

$58,000 of those fees will be paid to satisfy an APX change order.

The remaining $58,315 are retainage funds which the city will release to APX.

Scholtes explained city attorney David Frundt will be working with APX’s attorney to complete the final paperwork, which is due by the end of the month.

“Once this is all signed and completed, the HRA is going to put out a request to get a local contractor to finish the project on Rice Street,” Scholtes added.

In other business, the Blue Earth EDA: 

• Went into closed session to discuss a real estate transaction involving two properties. No action was taken by the EDA.

• Heard an update regarding an ongoing demolition project at the Ag Center. Schaefer shared the space is currently down to its studs, and it will soon be time for the EDA to consider how to market the space.

• Heard an update from Schaefer regarding a federal ARPA NOFO grant which the EDA is applying for in collaboration with Fairmont. Schaefer said the grant application was submitted on March 30, and it may be several months before a response is received.

• Heard an update from Chamber of Commerce director Shellie Poetter, who shared the Chamber has several upcoming events, including an ‘Egg My House’ event for Easter and City-Wide Garage Sales on the weekend of April 22-23.