State Representative David Bly, District 25B

I went from the infectious enthusiasm of students looking forward to school success and getting on with their futures to Bridgewater Town Hall to listen to leaders from local and county units of government discuss and try to find some common ground on the commercial industrial development proposed for I 35 and County Rd 1.

It was a civil meeting where development ideas were discussed freely and some offered words of caution and concern for the project. Gary Ebling, Bridgewater Township supervisor, facilitated the meeting and kept the conversation moving around the table. He allowed participants (mostly local government officials) to express concerns and then invited Rice County Commissioners Jim Brown and Jessica Peterson to respond. Visitors like myself were not allowed to ask questions or offer opinions.

Bruce Morlan, Dundas Planning Commissioner, described the project as a train speeding down the track while we try to lay the track. In response to Commissioner Brown’s explanation that the plan was necessary because the cost of road maintenance in Rice County far outpaced the ability for the county to pay, Bruce said in his research he has learned it is impossible for small units of government to develop their way out of debt. On top of that often government ends up taxing the businesses that are already in the county to subsidize their competition. As an analyst he look at things that are potential problems that most don’t see. Roads are a concern but he added there are many others.

Tom McMahon, Dundas City Engineer, suggested slow and partial development would be advisable starting at 19 and going south rather than starting at County 1. The costs are high and people are anxious about where the money will come from. Little thought seems to have been given to how to market or develop the project. He agreed that the project needs to slow down and consider costs and potential for development.

Gordon Kelley, of the County Planning Commission said the I-35 corridor development presented a unique opportunity for a developer who wanted to be closer to the metro area and have quick access to the freeway. He also indicated he knew of an interested developer but was not able to offer the name.

Dixon Bond, Northfield City Council member took a middle ground indicating that development does help all residents of the county. But it has the potential if not strategic in its plan to pull development away from cities. Not that competition is all bad.

Jim Pokorney, Northfield City Council, reiterated his concerns that development should be contiguous with cities and effort to protect the rural character of the county. He was skeptical that even though this project may be best for certain freeway dependent businesses that zoning could restrict other development.

Lee Lansing, Mayor of Northfield responding to comments that attempts had been made to work with the cities without success, encouraged all parties not to dwell on past problems but to work together now and cooperate for the betterment of the whole county.

Gary Ebling who had not seen the proposed development map commented that from his experience working in retail if a site was an asset it should be marketed in that way so we get exactly the type of development we want. He suggested it could be a premier corporate distribution center where the corporations would want to preserve the rural feel of the development and would have low infrastructure use and low impact on neighborhood.

Leif Knecht, Bridgewater Township Supervisor suggested the cost of upkeep and upgrade of east west roads will be great and we will need help covering the costs. The county transportation plan is key to making this work. People will find the shortest route and take it no matter the condition of the road. The number of semis coming from Rochester on 246 is proof of that.

Mike Groth, Northfield township supervisor, supported Leif’s concerns about roads and added speaking to rumors that the county could help itself by being more open and upfront with people and getting the information out.

Commissioner Brown was not happy with criticism of and rumors about the project and suggested he had tried to talk to city representatives but no one was interested. He indicated they rely on The Faribault Daily News to report on their meetings and it just doesn’t work getting the word out to people. Speaking to concerns about who would pay he said the plan all along was to have a ‘pay as you go system’ where developers would incur the costs but then added - to bring people in they may have to look at incentives of various kinds. It was hard to understand how one could have both incentives and a ‘pay as you go’ strategy.

No one at the table talked about the impact on the environment, neighbors across the street, or preserving the land as it is. I left feeling that something we don’t know about is driving this project. The county planners seem gripped by the notion that this development is inevitable and it won’t be long before Northern Rice County looks just like Northern Dakota County. They assume we might as well get ready for it.