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participation. Ramsey uses future tax dollars to finance improvements that <br />make it possible for businesses to locate in Ramsey rather than another <br />location. The affect on prouerty taexes is that tl~e tax dollars that would <br />otherwise have gone to the county, school district and city are use to pay <br />for whatever improvements are made. The business will continue to pay <br />exactly the same amount of taxes that they have paid otherwise. The affect <br />on all of the other properties is that the tax base will be increased in <br />the future and the result is that everyone's property taxes are l~ss <br />because of this additional tax base. There are certain things Minnesota <br />law will allow cities to participate in financing. Some of those things <br />are site preparation, security lighting, grading of parking lots, bringing <br />utilities to an industrial area, etc. These types of improvements can be <br />financed with tax increment revenue. The city is borrowing money to do the <br />improvements and paying it back through the taxes paid by the business. <br />The business would pay actually more than 100% of what was borrowed. <br />Ramsey's policy is to participate up to a maximum of 70% of the projected <br />increase in taxes generated by that business and the remaining 30% can go <br />iron, lately onto the tax rolls or for other projects in the area. <br /> <br />Bob Schwartz - Inquired if Atlas applied for a permit when they tried to <br />locate in Elk River. <br /> <br />Ann Jackson - Stated that Atlas made a lot of inquiries but no official <br />application. <br /> <br />Mr. Labat - Stated that a permit application for this type of industry is <br />extr~ely complicated, time consuming and expensive. They are also site <br />specific and so you can't make application until you know where you are <br />going to be located. <br /> <br />Bob Schwartz - Inquired why Atlas quit trying to get a location in Elk <br />River. <br /> <br />Mr. I~bat - Stated that when Atlas determined there were potential problems <br />and cor~munity reaction to things that don't even relate to Atlas, Atlas <br />decided to re-evaluate other locations that had been considered. <br /> <br />Terry Villeneuve - Inquired as to who has the final decision on allowing <br />this type of operation in Ramsey. <br /> <br />Mr. ~artley - Stated that the permit for operating this type of facility <br />comes from MPCA. The question before the Ramsey Planning Commission is a <br />question of whether or not to grant a conditional use permit, which is a <br />land use permit saying a use can be permitted at a particular location. <br />Conditional use permits are granted by City Council with a recommendation <br />from the Planning Commission; the operational permit is granted by MPCA. <br /> <br />Mr. Villeneuve - Inquired if it is possible for the citizens to vote on <br />Atlas ' request. <br /> <br />Mr. Goodrich - Stated that the City Council determination would be final <br />except for a review by the district court if someone challenged Council's <br />action. Prior to any final action, Council can authorize an advisory <br /> Planning & Zoning Public Hearing/June 16, 1988 <br /> <br />Page 4 of 7 <br /> <br /> <br />