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<br />Both the MPCA and the EPA have recorded environmental liens against <br />the'M&G Site. The cost to these governments of remediating the <br />site is estimated to be between $20 million to $25 million of which <br />approximately $8.2 million has been spent. The City has already <br />spent almost $1 million. The City expenditures have been incurred <br />on the acquisition of a parcel known as the 530 building, which is <br />surrounded on three sides by the M&G Site, and for out-of-pocket <br />expenses in trying to resolve the many issues involving the <br />redevelopment of the M&G Site. The City expects to incur an <br />additional $5.2 million for other redevelopment expenses including <br />acquisition of adjacent properties, domolition, relocation, site <br />improvements, road improvements, including a railroad crossing, <br />miscellaneous public improvements and associated costs. <br /> <br />Governmental Actions <br /> <br />Commitments are now in place from all federal and state <br />governmental agencies involved in funding the cleanup and <br />redevelopment of the M&G Site. Another piece to this complicated <br />puzzle is the issue of back taxes. If the contamination on the M&G <br />Site is not abated and contained, the M&G Site clearly has no <br />value. The County has recognized this fact by not foreclosing on <br />property taxes that are now up to 15 years delinquent as to <br />portions of the M&G Site. The County is now proceeding with the <br />tax forfeiture process and is being asked to help eliminate the <br />current and delinquent property taxes, penalties and interest. <br /> <br />Conclusion <br /> <br />If all of the governments involved are not proactive, then <br />substantial portions of this site will continue to be contaminated <br />and marginally used. Much of the remediation of the M&G Site will <br />take decades. These remediation actions and the complex history of <br />this District will be a continuing deterrent to productive use of <br />the District unless the proper documentation and limitations on the <br />environmental problems, risks and liabilities can be put in place. <br />The cost in both time and money involved in creating the necessary <br />agreements limiting environmental liabilites and the analyses on <br />which those agreeements are built go well beyond what can be <br />justified by any private entity. Without those actions reuse of <br />the property is impossible. Without redevelopment, no taxes will <br />be generated and certainly none will be paid. The City has limited <br />ability to finance the redevelopment costs. Without the use of tax <br />increment, the M&G Site as well as the rest of the proposed <br />District would not be redeveloped. <br />