The city council reviewed the Minnesota Design Team contract and other tornado recovery issues during Tuesday's regular meeting.
City council member Don Niles, who is also the chair of Wadena 2.0, said the Design Team has a nominal charge for their service.
"The intention all along has been that the Initiative Foundation grant for $10,000 that we've already received and accepted would be used to pay for this and the other expenses connected with that," Niles said.
The council voted to approve the contract pending review by the city administrator and barring any unforeseen hurdles.
Niles brought up another document regarding Chuck Banks of Greensburg, Kan., whom he said was highly recommended by Matt Deighton. Deighton had previously given a presentation to Wadena community leaders on tornado recovery.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Chuck Banks provides consulting services for rebuilding community, and his area of expertise is supposedly USDA fundraising," he said. "He was very interested in ... being up here for the Design Team visit."
He said that he did not need any action at the time.
Earlier in the meeting, the council discussed hiring a grant writer for a small cities grant.
"The intent of the grant right now would be mainly for housing," city administrator Brad Swenson said, adding that they had a good chance of getting the grant.
"It's not going to be just for the city of Wadena," he said. "We have to include Wadena County."
He said that priority would be given to areas affected by the tornado.
"The county line is a separation between districts with DEED," said economic development director Dean Uselman. "Otter Tail County would have to go through the West Central ... They can also apply."
The council also discussed appealing a previous decision by FEMA to not include the Community Center in its aid to Wadena.
