(Spirit Lake)—The Dickinson county board of supervisors this (Tues.) morning heard a request from a delegation of officials from Lake Park requesting some $414,000 in low-to-moderate income funds. The funds were collected by the county through urban renewal districts that were formed to accommodate two different housing projects in the city in 2001 and 2003. The city at the time requested and was granted permission to tap into the county’s bonding capacity because it’s was nearly maxed out due to other projects. Attorney Don Hemphill served as a spokesman for the delegation at this (Tues.) morning’s meeting…(click here for comment.) “These funds were generated from two successful development projects in Lake Park, Silver Shores 1st Addition and West Bay Estates. They come from property taxes paid on the improvements in those developments, but by law they have to be used to assist and benefit low and moderate income folks in the community. So a group of citizens there has formed what they’re calling the Lake Park Housing Authority and they’re asking the board to allocate these funds which are held by the County Auditor for use in LMI projects in Lake Park.”
Hemphill says the group has already identified some possible uses for the funds…(click here for comment.) “Well, two things that have been identified is the establishment of a revolving loan fund which could be used to make loans to upgrade existing housing stock. Those could be in several forms. They could be forgivable or they could be no interest, but the idea is to improve the housing stock through the community. Another possibility, a grander approach that has been planned and a need is there, is a mixed housing development. It would involve assisted living, senior apartments, some multi-family, to try to get a mix of housing. And there’s been discussion with a couple of churches in the community that might be the sponsors or the overseers for that sort of development.”
The supervisors took no action on a resolution that would allow the process to start. They were concerned that it was listed on the agenda only as a discussion item. And one supervisor, Mardi Allen, said she wanted additional time to review the resolution. The matter will be put back on the agenda for the supervisor’s meeting January 2nd as an action item.
