HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-11-1972Record of Official Proceedings of the Common Council
of the City of Rochester, Minn., December 11, 1972
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Minutes of a special meeting of the Common Council of the Common Council of the
City of Rochester,. Minnesota held in the Conference Room at the Olmsted County Highway
Building 1421 Third Avenue S. E. in said City on December 11, 1972.
President pro tem Larson called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M., the following
members being present: President pro tem Larson, Aldermen Kamper, Mayer, McNary, Powers
Strain, Absent: President Postier.
Upon motion by McNary and second by Powers the call of the special meeting was
read.for the purpose on considering a resolution on Municipal Redevelopment Revenue
Bonds for financing facilities for Pace Dairy Foods ( Kroger Co. ) of Rochester.
Alderman Strain asked the question, Had the dairy waste been checked into, and
McNary told them they had, Strain also asked if this would effect the bonding capacity
in any way and Mr. Moline, Finance Director said it had no relationship to outstanding
bonds.
Mr. Mayer stated his opposition on the proposal by stating that it is discrimin-
atory and would provide large corporations with "another tax loop -hole" and stated that
with the excellent facilities that Rochester has to offer and would attract industry on
that basis. He also stated that it would be unlikely that small businesses would go
this route because bonding agencies would not take that risk, and that medical, hotel
and retail industries would no be eligible to take advantage of these bonds. The law
provides that only manufacutring firms are eligible. Mayor Day stated that he agreed
that the concept of municipal industrial bonds is wrong, but said the practice of them
is used in other cities and to provide a balanced industrial climate we would eventually
have to do it, as we may lose valuable employment opportunities for the community.
Alderman McNary stated that if we took a galant stand now against what is so common it
would only be a "ripple in the ocean" and Alderman Strain stated competition is the name
of the game and we should use the tool at our disposal. Alderman Mayer stated that we
should get rid of the tool it is bad, and that Pace foods would probably locate here
anyway without the bonds because after investigation of other cities it found Rochester
is still the best site.
President pro tem Larson asked all who were in favor of adopting this resolution
and all voted aye with Alderman Mayer voting"nae".
Alderman Mayer -made a further comment that he was not opposed to Pace foods
in the City of Rochester, but he would like them to stay in the City on the same basis
as other industries.
The City Attorney asked for instructions as to whether he should seek to con-
tinue the hearing for December 14, 1972 in the matter of annexation of part of a lot of
Golden Hill before the municipal Commission and the Council instructed him to continue it
for the purposes of waiting to see whether or not the orderly annexation is agreed upon
by the town of Rochester and the City. President pro tem Larson stated that it was not
intent of the Council at that time that we were not in favor of a single lotannexation
and that the Council would rather deferr this until such time as we have had a chance to
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Record of Official Proceedings of the Common "Council
of the City of Rochester, Minn., December 11, 1972
discuss this orderly annexation:-
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned upon motion by McNary and
second by Mayer and all voting aye.
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Deputy City Clerk
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