It appears that Granite Falls will be welcoming a new manufacturing business to the city following the council’s approval of $200,000 in financing for the start-up of Cutting Edge Technology during Monday evening’s city council meeting.
A few details and contingencies are all that stand in the way of Cutting Edge Technology’s opening, which local owner, Jeff Muhl, expects to occur sometime in July.
Muhl lives to the north of the city in rural Granite Falls. He brings 26 years of manufacturing experience to the business that he intends to purchase and relocate from Long Lake to the former Marr Valve building site, which is situated across the street from City Hall.
Muhl said that the company, originally known as Water Jet Cutting, was 23 years old and that the former ownership was looking to pass the business on to a new generation. When asked about the impetus behind his decision to make the purchase and begin his own machine shop, Muhl said it fit with his background and “I just enjoy making stuff.”
The equipment being purchased from Water Jet Cutting has the capability to cut materials for products using water pressure flowing at supersonic speeds. Muhl said that half of the machines will be suitable for cutting materials such as soft rubbers and plastics while the other half will be heavier duty with the capacity to cut steel, aluminum, glass, ceramic tile and the like.
Muhl said that the process is environmentally friendly as it does not require heating, just highly pressured clean water.
He said he hopes to employee five or more workers within two years.
The city council’s approval of the $200,000 comes at the recommendation of the EDA. $100,100 will stem from the EDA’s 811 revolving loan fund while $99,900 will come from a Rural Development grant that originated as stimulus dollars but will be administered through the city.
Conditions of the loan are that Rural Development approves the $99,900 grant, that Muhl receives additional bank financing and that he obtains a signed lease agreement.
Other news:
•A public hearing was held for 2010 street improvements.
Each year a citizens board observes the roads of the city and makes recommendation of projects that need to be completed.
Nine projects at a total cost of $657,000 have been brought to the city council for approval. Of that expense, approximately 23 percent, or $151,500, would be assessed to taxpayers as per city assessment policies, and payable within eight years.
One individual was present at the meeting to ask questions regarding project specifics around her household. City Administrator Bill Lavin and Engineer Dave Berry stated that they had not received any citizen input on the project beyond minor queries.
No formal action was taken and the hearing was continued to the next council meeting set for April 5. Lavin said that two projects were left off of the initial public announcement and, though neither was assessable to public property, the City was obligated to post the information for two weeks prior to a hearing in which action could be taken.
•Council agreed to sign a mutual aid agreement and draft a resolution with Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN). WARN is a network of utilities that helps other utilities respond to emergencies. There is no cost to the city. The network functions in much the same way as in mutual agreements with local fire departments and policing units. Marshall, Clarkfield and Cottonwood, amongst others have already joined the organization.
