May 18, 2023 at 2:07 p.m.
Minocqua's committee on housing and labor holds final meeting
Creation of a standing committee included in final report to town board
By Trevor Greene-
It was previously suggested to meet with the town board on May 16, but that changed following additional discussion last Thursday.
While there was some debate on what exactly the committee will suggest, it was agreed it will recommend two things - to create an "Oversight Committee on Housing and Labor" to keep the momentum going and "move forward with all possible solutions."
During the committee's April 27 meeting, three possible solutions were identified. Those included the town helping to develop seasonal workforce housing with Lake Delton-based general contracting firm Holtz Builders, working with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and developing a tax incremental district.
The committee modified the final report during its May 11 meeting to note that "the time frame of all projects will dictate which happens first," seasonal workforce housing (J1 student or foreign exchange student housing), WHEDA or a tax incremental district.
As the report isn't "finalized" just yet, committee member Krystal Westfahl was directed to finish the layout before presenting it to the town board.
"So we're not saying what necessarily one needs to be focused on first," she said. "We want to focus on all of them simultaneously. We want to make sure that we're having discussions with all these people to move the needle."
Before the committee came to that consensus, committee member Brian Fricke said he was concerned with the seasonal workforce aspect of the report.
He said some of his constituents have indicated they wouldn't be in favor of the town pursuing a development solely for seasonal workers.
Westfahl and committee member Michael Tautges explained to him Holtz Builders offers different development options. They said the contractor can also provide a "multi-use" development that provides year-round housing for residents, too.
"The common thread I see is we're not going to do anything unless we get, we have to have the involvement of the town," committee member Bob Jaskolski said. "The town is going to have to lean-in on whatever solution they agree to do."
Fricke noted the April 4 referendum, which failed.
The referendum was for the town to raise its tax levy to keep up with rising costs of the town's services.
Westfahl asked him how many people "actually understood what was happening" with regard to the referendum.
Fricke said he didn't know.
"I guess my point of that question is we've been meeting continuously and (our meetings have) been in the paper continuously, the people are talking about workforce continuously," Westfahl said. "This isn't (like) the referendum (where it) wasn't something that was being talked (about) continuously and understood ... so I'm just saying from our publicity standpoint, people understand this more."
One way the town board would be able to enable builders to want to develop in Minocqua is to buy property and sell it for a discounted price, though electors would need to first give the town board permission.
"First of all, I'm glad it's been in the paper, it's been in there often, there's an awareness on (this)," Jaskolski said. "That doesn't mean this is going to be an automatic. I think there will be a lot of work (still)."
Tautges, who filled in for committee chairman Scott Meitus on May 11, told The Lakeland Times on May 12 the standing committee was included in the final report as a recommendation because committee members have already built strong relationships with entities that could help.
He said the committee "would be happy" to pass on those contacts to the town board, but the standing committee could continue to facilitate discussions "more smoothly."
"(The board) could just have oversight of what the committee's work is, but if they had a specific topic they would want more focus on, we could happily take that on and continue those conversations we've already had," Tautges said. "Rather than the town board needing to start over from scratch themselves."
Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].
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