Phillips approves TIF request

The Phillips Common Council at its Sept. 10 meeting, tentatively approved a TIF funding request from a developer to fund the future paving of a small section of street that will transition to city ownership at some point.

Present at the meeting was Jon Pesko, owner Phillips Lumber & Hardware, who partnered with Jeremy Pesko and developer Bill Harper to build family duplex housing units in the north end of the city. Contractor J C Builders of Phillips is building two-and-three bedroom high end residential duplexes with garages for rent in a cul-de-sac setting.

The council approved a rezoning of 1309 Pine Ridge Road from C-1 (commercial) to R-2 (residential) in February 2022. The council approved the final subdivision plat in August 2023, and construction will continue into early October, followed by some landscaping in the spring.

At the time the project began it was not possible to include eligible portions of the development for TIF district funds until at least the end of 2025, Pesko said. A small portion of Pine Ridge Road that leads into the development is due to transfer to the city.

The request was to delay paving of the road portion until new TIF funds are available and the project will likely be eligible, he said. From an engineering standpoint it would also allow the ground to settle after the developer dug the area up to place sewer and water lines.

The estimated costs for 3 inches of blacktop on the road section would be in the $40,000 range. The developer would continue to maintain the gravel section to include snow removal through the winter.

In other business, the council reviewed the raze order of property at 354 S. Avon Ave, and approved a request of the owner to transition ownership to the city. The rationale to accept ownership was that the city would likely have to pay for the demolition of the unrepairable structure and attempt to recoup costs from the owner through property taxes. With city ownership, the costs can be recouped through sale or other development.

In the Phillips Planning Commission meeting prior to the council meeting, Mayor Charles Peterson appointed Bryan Weisrock to the Phillips Planning Commission and Steve Gastmann as an alternate.

The council also:

• approved the order of a certified survey map for the Family Forum lot at 386 Cherry St.

• approved a final plat from Phillips Lumber Company submitted by Pine Ridge Holdings LLC to build a ditch and subdivision.

• deferred discussion until more information is available on an EPA Cleanup Grant and the EPA Community Change grant from Price County United Limited.

• approved a public works request to pursue “looping” of the new water mains to the North Annex

• approved a $40,960 payment to Huotari Construction for the Phillips Fire Hall overhead door replacement project.