RTS tax abatement given the nod

Posted 1/24/01

RTS tax abatement given the nod

By MaryHelen Swanson

The Rush City Council, Monday, Jan. 22, gave enthusiastic approval to the proposal of RTS, Inc., Anita Lind, owner, for a tax abatement to assist her in building a manufacturing plant at the south end of the cityís industrial park.
Lindís three-year-old computer recycling business is expanding at such a rate she now requires a building of almost 20,000 sq. feet to accommodate the operation.

On Monday, there were no public objections to the tax abatement at a hearing held during the council meeting. With the cityís assistance, Lind will purchase approximately 3.1 acres for her new business paying it off with the abated taxes over a period of 10 years. Extension of utilities would also be included in the abatement, however, Lind will have to upfront the costs and be reimbursed at the end of the 10 years.

Lind is also making request for tax abatement from the county. Last week the commissioners appeared receptive to her proposal with the exception of the 10-year abatement period. Most of the 11 tax abated projects the county has approved to date have been seven or eight years.

With the councilís approval, a development agreement will be drafted between Lind and the city. A public hearing for the countyís abatement will be held on Feb. 21.
Lind anticipates the new facility will allow her to nearly double her workforce. She is looking for construction to take place this summer.

As City Administrator Daniel Hoffman noted, the two-fold objective of the abatement process is to add value to the tax base and create jobs.
Based on a $550,000 estimated value of Lindís building after completion, the projected annual property taxes are: Chisago County $9,090, city of Rush City $8,272 and Rush City School Dist. #139 $13,604.

Bob Carlson named fire chief

New officers for the Rush City Fire Department were approved this week including the appointment of Bob Carlson as chief, with Curt Bye as Lieutenant and Dale Rieland as Assistant Training Officer. These are three-year appointments.

Fire department officers are elected by the department on a rotating basis, three different positions being elected each year.
Zoning revisions still underway
While the city continues to revise its comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances, a moratorium has been placed on annexation and subdivision requests. As the moratorium is due to sunset at the end of February, the council agreed, Monday night, to extend it to May 1 to give the hired consultant, Dale Powers, time to complete his work.

At the same time the council approved an independent contract with Powers to complete the work at $25/hr.

Administrator didnít know the regulations
On Jan. 17 the city was notified by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) of violations that occurred when two homes (one on 5th and one on S. Alger), the Wellhouse on Second Ave and Pumphouse on Division St. were demolished.

Administrator Hoffman admitted he simply did not know the regulations. He noted that in the past demolitions were taken care of by the cityís fire department.

It appears the city did not have the buildings inspected for the presence of asbestos prior to their demolition. In addition, the city failed to notify the MPCA of the demolition projects.
Within 10 days of receiving this notice the city is required to submit a plan, subject to MPCA approval, detailing how the it will ensure that all future regulated demolition/renovation projects will be performed in accordance with state requirements.