Mound Magic to discuss community development
Mound city officials are hosting a presentation at Al and Alma’s Supper Club on Oct. 22 to update the community on city development plans.
Al and Alma’s
The presentation, called “Mound Magic: An Update on Mound Community Development, is planned to have more of an upbeat atmosphere than in years past. City Manager Kandis Hanson said that the city is holding the development update event now that the economy is beginning to improve.
City officials hope Al and Alma’s will set the mood for the evening.
“I want this to be a casual, relaxed environment,” she said.
Hanson explained that in years past they would hold development update meetings in church basements or city buildings.
“That’s kind of a sterile environment,” she said. “We are trying to get a little more of a relaxed environment.”
With a smaller meeting space, the event is opened for 75 participants who prereregister with the city. The presentation is scheduled to be roughly an hour and 15 minutes beginning at 7 p.m. A social time is planned to begin at 6:15 p.m., where light snacks will be provided and attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a drink from the bar.
If more than 75 participants are interested, Hanson said the city will hold another presentation at Al and Alma’s on a Monday or Tuesday — days the supper club is not opened during the fall.
The topics will range from current development projects, such as the construction at the new Walgreens site, and projects city officials have only recently discussed with developers.
Hanson said the project she is most excited about for the city is the current Walgreens project. Once the new Walgreens retail location is opened, she said area business owners believe there will be an increase in commercial activity in Mound — what she described as a “retail magnet.”
“They really believe that once we have a new Walgreens, more businesses will want to come into Mound,” she said.
The presentation will have an update on that project and the small restaurant opening by the Dakota Rail Trail. Hanson added that the city is speaking with parties interested in the small 1,100 square foot restaurant and could include a beer and wine license.
Other discussion for the evening includes recent talks about interest from hotel developers in the Auditors Road District of Mound.
“We will talk about how Mound has been approached by two hotel developers,” she said.
These talks have just begun, however, with no plans yet set for action.
“We have had proposals in the past that have fallen through,” said Hanson. “Once again, there is not even a preliminary design or a developers agreement.”
City officials will also discuss the development near the Lost Lake, the Westonka Veterinary Clinic and the temporary arrangement of John’s Outdoor Landscaping and Jubilee Foods.
Interested residents have until Oct. 17 to register for the event, but seating is limited to 75 people. Al and Alma’s Supper Club is located at 5201 Piper Road in Mound. For more information on registration contact Kandis Hanson at kandishanson@cityofmound.com.
