Posted: 7/21/04
By Barbara Brown
During last weekís Stacy council meeting, the council heard the possibilities before them on different tax incentive plans they could enlist to encourage business growth in the city.
Last month the council agreed to develop the Stacy Ponds Business Park in an effort to encourage manufacturing and industrial businesses to open in Stacy.
One such company is Hans Hagen Homes, a manufactured homes builder currently looking to relocate to Stacy.
The city talked with Ehlers and Associatesí Todd Hagen, no relation to the home builder, about the options they could explore. Ehlers and Associates is the cityís financial advisor.
Hagen told the city it could implement a tax increment financing district, a tax abatement program or an economic development district.
After much discussion, the council seemed to lean toward exploring the opportunities of an economic development district.
Several points were cited during the discussion, including the fact that Hans Hagen wants to start building a manufacturing facility in Stacy as soon as possible.
Councilman John Daher, who has been the councilís liaison between Hans Hagen and the city, said Hagen had not asked for any special tax incentives, but that the city could consider implementing a plan now to encourage even more businesses to relocate to the city.
Ehlers and Associates, some city council members and the Chisago County EDA/HRA will meet to further investigate the options.
Also at the council meeting, the council approved a plan to build 40 townhouses near Sherman Oaks Road and Foster Ave.
A representative for the developer agreed to abide by all laws and file a letter of credit with the city.
Site development on Sunrise Prairie Townhomes is expected to begin immediately with construction beginning in early fall, a builderís representative said.
The developer wants to have the first set of homes completed and landscaped before the spring Parade of Homes.
Chisago County Cpl. Kris Scott, of the sheriffís office, reported to the council about recent sheriffís office responses to the Stacy area.
Scott presented the council with a statistical report that broke down the calls to the Stacy area into several categories, including traffic violations, domestic disturbances, drug complaints and other offenses.
He said he would bring a report to the council each quarter so he and the council could continue to track the sheriffís office work in the city as well as address offenses that may create trends or patterns.
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