PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PROPOSAL … Ashley Epling (above) discusses a housing lot proposal at the Williams County Port Authority Meeting on Monday, October 13.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Port Authority met in regular session on Monday, October 13, in the conference room.
The meeting began at 1:10 p.m. with the roll call. In attendance were Dave Newcomer, Sean Rupp, Cheryl Andres, Tyson Stuckey, Ashley Epling, Tyler Sailer, and Rachel Walz.
Bill Martin and Dawn Fitzcharles were both absent. Minutes were approved from the September 22 and October 2 meetings.
Rupp reported there were two duplex projects available in Stryker, one on Curtis Street and the other located on Depot Street.
“We were offered a lot in Stryker from Heller Creations and Modifications of Edon to put a duplex on for us on Curtis Street,” said Rupp. “They also wanted to sell us the lot with the duplex on it.”
The total cost for the Curtis Street duplex project is $180,000, which includes the purchase of the lot at $15,000 and $165,000 to build.
“That would put us in the ballpark of where we need to be,” commented Rupp. “We still have natural gas and electricity to add in there.
“There was water and sewer already in that lot, and the other house was taken off from the land bank, so we should have a little less cost in that.”
Board member Tyler Sailer asked Rupp about any invested buyers in mind for the Curtis Street project.
“We have one that contacted us and is interested in something over in Stryker, and the same buyer in Edgerton said he got an appetite for more throughout the county,” said Rupp.
Rupp made a motion to accept the bid to purchase the lot and to construct the duplex located on Curtis Street. Board members unanimously approved the proposal to proceed with it.
Currently, the Port Authority has two housing projects underway in Pioneer, along with the completion of two houses in Bryan (Bryan Street) and Montpelier (Empire Street). Both are awaiting potential buyers.
The other project involves a duplex in Edgerton, which is under contract for $190,000. Rupp is hoping that it will close by the end of the month.
Rupp also reported that Joe Martin of Andelynn Homes of Pioneer bought a 1,250 square foot modular home from Manufactured Housing Enterprises of Edgerton and put it up in Pioneer. The modular home is finished and currently up for sale for $165,000 with more square footage, but without a garage.
“They would like us to go over and take a walk through it and see how we like it as another option,” commented Rupp.
Discussion involving the next steps for the Port Authority to develop a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) was tabled for further study by a committee. Dawn Fitzcharles, Tyson Stuckey, and Dave Newcomer will serve on the committee.
An executive session was held with no action taken. The next meeting is on Monday, October 27, at 1 p.m. in the conference room.