Rushford EDA Seeks Community Input

The Rushford EDA is actively seeking community input on the future plans for the newly acquired property formerly owned by Farmers Win Co-op. On March 13, the EDA heard a joint presentation by Kristin Prososki, Community Development Specialist at SEH, and Martha Faust, Brownfields Community Outreach Supervisor at the MPCA (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency). In this presentation, Prososki and Faust explained the steps the city needed to take as they proceed in this redevelopment project.

Prososki is with the Kansas State University which assists communities in EPA Region 5 and provides TAB (Technical Assistance to Brownfield) communities. All TAB services are free to participant cities due to an EPA grant. The programs are customized to provide whatever the community needs.

Rushford’s site is considered a Brownfield Site. By definition, a Brownsfield Site is “an abandoned or underutilized property whose redevelopment is hindered by a real or perceived environmental contamination.” Faust stated that a perception of contamination is the biggest drawback to a redevelopment.

According to Faust, this is the only truly voluntary program for such redevelopment. It interacts with the private market to provide technical assistance and issues letters of liability assurance letters. It promotes the investigation, cleanup and redevelopment of property.

Faust detailed the due diligence process to the EDA. It consists of Phase I ESA (Environmental Site Assessment), Phase II ESA, Cleanup Plan, Cleanup and Redevelopment. This due diligence protects the potential buyer. The grant request has been approved for Rushford. Phase I ESA, the desktop review has been completed; this consisted of checking deeds, photos, local records as well as a visual inspection of the property. A report is expected in a few weeks.

The next step will probably be sampling of soil, groundwater and building materials to check for contaminants. Faust said there will be collaboration with the Department of Agriculture on this. The work is expected to be completed by the end of June. At that time, any necessary cleanup steps will be defined.

Faust reminded the EDA that she was really there to help communities navigate through the process. The MPCA Brownfield Assessment Grants can pay for Phase I and II ESAs, hazardous materials testing, cleanup preparation and MPCA fees.

Prososki stressed that the redevelopment process was not linear; they would need to do whatever it takes to complete the process. The timing can vary greatly during such a process.

“Community engagement builds support,” Prososki declared. Such engagement makes it easier to talk with potential buyers as they try to decide if their project will fit.

Prososki shared that market analysis can help to see what is feasible at the site. She encouraged conceptual plans, but cautioned that they should be left as flexible as possible and left open to the possibility of phasing a project over a period of time.

A Resource Roadmap could be compiled to list potential grant resources and find timelines for such grant applications. Prososki recommended the city decide in advance how they were going to handle potential buyer inquiries as they begin the work. She stressed it as important to have consistent answers and to know at what point of the project the city would consider offers.

Prososki led the EDA members as they decided on their community engagement strategy. The EDA decided to use a multifaceted approach. Postcards to area community members are planned initially as well as possibly online surveys using Google docs on social media and/or posters throughout the town asking for input.

Prososki informed the city that they should leave the questions open-ended and not have any predetermined ideas. She suggested they could go to places where people are already gathering such as a school event possibly to ask for input as well.

The EDA members felt it was important to get input from people outside the city limits; the whole area is part of the market base for the city. Later they may reach out to specific groups for further input.

After the initial contacts, the information and suggestions gathered will be communicated to the community. In the future, there will be in=person meetings as well; they will be spread out to allow time for thoughts and ideas to be shared. The EDA plans to have open communication with the community as the entire redevelopment project proceeds.

People of the Rushford area: start brainstorming! What do YOU think would be the best use of the redevelopment property? What will most benefit the people of the community? The city of Rushford and the EDA want to know!