FAIRMONT–The Fairmont Economic Development Authority met briefly on Monday afternoon and heard an update on the Economic Development Coordinator search before going into closed session to discuss the purchase of eight White Tail Ridge lots, located at the intersection of Belle Vue Road, Prairie Avenue and Redbird Lane in Fairmont.

City Administrator Cathy Reynolds provided an update on the Economic Development Coordinator search as the city has been looking to fill the role since former coordinator Linsey Preuss left last month. Reynolds said they received two applications but when they went to schedule interviews, one applicant had already accepted another job. The other applicant will be interviewed this week by Reynolds, City Engineer Troy Nemmers and FEDA board member Sarah Gerhard.

Reynolds said if this one doesn’t work out for whatever reason, she will repost the position and look into getting a consultant to help on a part-time basis in the meantime.

She pointed out that the nearby cities of Wisdom, St. James and Worthington are all looking for economic development coordinators as well. Martin County is also going to be discussing hiring for an EDA coordinator at its county commissioner meeting today.

“There’s a lot happening in this region and we’re all talking to each other,” Reynolds said.

Moving to other matters, Reynolds provided a brief community development report for 2021 fourth quarter and 2022 first quarter.

She noted that 2021 ended with just over $23 million in commercial building permits, which was up from almost $15 million at the end of 2020.

“That’s a lot of good and doesn’t include Lakeview or the school because both of those projects are done through the state. That’s stuff that’s happening in the community in addition to what’s happening here,” Reynolds said.

For quarter one of 2022, there’s just under $330,000 in building permits but Reynolds said it is still early in the year and there are some projects in the works.

Looking at FEDA funding, four CARES loans were granted in the first quarter. One micro loan was given in the first quarter as well.

“We still have a lot of funds to work with. There’s a couple businesses I’ve been talking to and working with,” Reynolds said.

In other news, Reynolds said Fairmont Community Education and Recreation has registration open for the next series of Fairmont Area Success Planning. At the first session in March, more than a dozen area businesses attended. Reynolds said there’s just a handful registered for the second session now, which has two routes, a seller’s course and a buyer’s course. She said no one is registered for the buyer’s course.

“If you know anyone. Encourage it. It’s available on the CER website,” Reynolds said.

Following the meeting, the board went into closed session to discuss the White Tail Ridge lots. At the November FEDA meeting, the board authorized Preuss to draft a Request for Proposal for the lots as the board is looking for potential future development of possibly single family or twin homes there.