Housing Authority

(Provided by Marv Anderson, Housing Authority Member, March 2019)

• 1982:  Several residents began researching senior housing options for the Town.

  • The Town Board created a committee to consider the feasibility for a project and agreed to pay the expenses involved in the study.

  • One of the first actions was to mail a questionnaire to all local residents, encompassing their interest, apartment size, services needed, etc. Response was “excellent."

  • The Eliason family donated property for the project.
     

• 1983: With the Town Attorney’s approval and in accordance with Wisconsin Statute 66.40, the Town Board adopted ordinance "H-1" establishing the Housing Authority.
  • Charter members Richard Mantei, Mark Voll, Carl Herrmann, Jean Seifried, and Betty Walsh were recognized.  Their first order of business was to establish by-laws.
  • Housing Authority members met with an architect to develop plans for a complex of 12 one-bedroom units.  A rep from Farmers Home Administration (FMHA) met with the Housing Authority to review applications, loans, etc.. Lots of paperwork…..application was ultimately approved.
     
• 1985:  August groundbreaking led to the first building being ready for occupancy in early 1986.
  • The Housing Authority and Town Board agreed to the Town accepting an annual payment from the Housing Authority in lieu of property taxes.  That agreement remains in place today.
  • The Housing Authority pays all its routine operating expenses while accumulating funds for projects such as parking lot maintenance, building maintenance and appliance/fixture upgrades.
     
• 1988: Construction of a second building consisting of 3 two-bedroom and 9 one-bedroom units was ready for occupancy in November following approval of a second FMHA loan.
   
• 1992: Construction of a third building consisting of 3 two-bedroom and 9 one-bedroom units was ready for occupancy in December following approval of a third FMHA loan.
   
• 2014: Francine Byrns, who for many years had provided dedicated service as the Housing Authority Executive Director, retired from that position, but remained an active member. Following a search for potential firms to assume management of the day-to-day operations, the Housing Authority contracted with A&M services of Crandon to provide on-site management once per week plus other property management services provided from its Crandon office. 
  
  A&M Services
  Property Management
  PO Box 26
  Crandon, WI 54520
  Office@ampropertyman [at] gmail.com (Office[at]ampropertyman[at]gmail[dot]com)
  800-490-6621
   
• As of 2019, the Housing Authority has three outstanding loans with a total balance of approximately $1 million.  Maintaining debt is necessary to qualify for federal Rural Development rent subsidy.                         
• Housing Authority members are appointed to 5-year staggered terms. Following are current members and terms: