NEW ULM -The Reinvest New Ulm (RENU) Committee reviewed and prioritized its top projects Tuesday before making its recommendation to the City Council later this month.

Overall the committee remains satisfied with the projects recommended at the previous RENU committee, but identified the Industrial Park as a possible alternative.

During the May 17 RENU meeting, the committee narrowed the list of local option sales tax proposals to the Rec Center expansion; National Guard Armory land; a gymnastics facility; Hermann Heights Park; and the Johnson Park grandstand.

This final list of project was based heavily on a combined ranking of the projects by RENU committee members. Only a week remains before RENU makes an official project recommendation and committee members looked to offer the city council alternative options in the event funding was greater or less than anticipated.

RENU identified the industrial park expansion as its top alternative. This project, which call for the acquisition of land to create a new industrial park, missed inclusion by the RENU committee, but was deemed a worthy project and had the support of Community Development Director David Schnobrich and Brian Tohal of Economic Development Corp.

The expansion of the industrial project was seen as an infrastructure necessity for New Ulm. The committee felt the expansion would provide jobs for locals and bring new people into the community.

The reason the industrial park was not considered as a top project was community feedback did not favor infrastructure projects.

Committee Chair Toby Freier said city support was needed to pass the referendum and the feedback he had received was against using RENU funding for infrastructure.

Kathleen Backer agreed, saying infrastructure projects are expected from the city while the sales tax projects goes beyond the regular city projects.

RENU reviewed the five projects being proposed for possible cuts if necessary. The committee ultimately decided the gymnastics facility was the lowest priority and the first to be cut if funding was lower than expected. As initially proposed, the gymnastics facility was proposed to be constructed on Turner Hall land, but RENU decided to combine the gymnastic facility with the Recreation Center Expansion.

The committee also received communication from District 88 and Martin Luther College (MLC). Both the school and college indicated support for the creation of a multi-purpose turf facility.

District 88 has already begun creation of a turf field at the site of the new high school. It was suggested at the last RENU meeting that partnering with the school to create a seasonal domed facility at this location to share the cost. MLC was identified as a potential user of a facility. A letter from MLC Administration Vice President, Steven Thiesfeldt, indicated the college was interested in renting space in facility of this type.

RENU will hold its last official meeting next Tuesday. The committee will make its final recommendation during their next meeting on June 7, 2016. This recommendation will be formally submitted to the City Council on May 21, 2016.