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Mr. Barton stated that new chairman appointments at the Metro Council resulted <br />in a change in direction, especially with regard to economic development. The <br />first step in that direction is that a set of interim policies are being reviewed <br />by committees for adoption and Ramsey will be receiving copies of these policies <br />for review and comment. Specific components of this program are: <br /> <br />1. Having Metro Council be certified to be able to apply for 503 Small <br /> Business Loans from the Small Business Administration. <br /> <br />2. Regional sale of industrial revenue bonds which are put into a pool and <br /> utilized as supplemental financing. <br /> <br />Mr. Barton stated that Metro Council will also have. available an economic <br />development staff for those communities who cannot afford such a staff of their <br /> <br />Commissioner Cox stated that he really has to wonder how effective all these <br />commissions and committes can be when legislative bodies and people controlling <br />government are all working against the businessman. He further commented that <br />Mr. Barton is in the stream of things and can let this position be known. <br />Commissioner Cox stated that Metro Council has already taken the position that <br />they will not walk up the hill to substantiate Ramsey's position regarding <br />local aids. A firm with the potential for 300 employees is moving out of Ramsey <br />to Princeton, which is out of Metro jurisdiction; Ramsey needs the opportunity <br />to compete with neighboring communities; the businesses remaining in Ramsey are <br />fed up because of the taxes. With existing laws, a business that needs to <br />expand is forced to pay top dollar for property and the value of that property <br />was based on the high budget businesses only and not the business right next <br />door that went bankrupt. <br /> <br />Mr. Barton agreed that Minnesota is at a disadvantage from a tax standpoint, <br />but noted that other states are going to have to start biting the bullet also. <br />Mr. Barton stated that one thing that is needed is more dialogue between the <br />public and private sector. He stated that it does happen in some cases that <br />Metro Council requirements stand in the way of economic development, but the <br />community should take the initiative and approach Metro Council for a compromise. <br /> <br />Commissioner Cox requested assurance that the Metro Council economic development <br />staff will be qualified to handle these kinds of problems, that it has not been <br />the case in the past. <br /> <br />Mr. Barton replied that the economic staff will be made up of business people <br />with expertise in the area. <br /> <br />Mr. Schnelle stated that the Metro Council'is going to have to be able to <br />take on the needs of cities, for instance -- the fiscal disparities act. <br />It is a common thing where the city needs help, they do not get it. <br /> <br />Mr. Barton stated that there has been a change in administration at the Metro <br />Council and Ramsey should contact that chairman and local representatives <br />should also be made aware. From a Metro Council standpoint, we have been more <br />involved in financing and that will help us be more effective in recognizing <br />the needs of a community and coming up with solutions. Local financing, as <br />far as economic development, is where it's at. <br /> <br />EDC/August 10, 1983 <br />Page 2 of 10 <br /> <br /> <br />