By Annette Aubinger
Editor

HOWARD – It was good news that came to the Howard village board on Monday, Feb. 12.

Dave Wiese, executive director of community development for the village reported to the board that total estimated construction costs were $62,169,114.

“This is the best year we have had. It is a 10-year high,” said Wiese.

Wiese said new commercial and industrial projects accounted for approximately $25 million.

New single-family homes were approximately $18 million and new apartments approximately $13 million.

New single-family home permits were also at a 10-year high.

Eighty-two new single-family home permits were taken out in 2017.

Wiese said the average new home construction costs are estimated at approximately $220,000. That doesn’t include the cost of the parcel.

“Howard had a record breaking 2017 for new construction across all sectors. We are proud that so many people are choosing to build, live and work in Howard, said Paul Evert, Howard village administrator. “Our board and staff have worked very hard to create new neighborhoods and welcome new businesses and it is gratifying to see these efforts pay off.”

Board members saw graphs on the composition of 2017 building permits, number of single-family home starts and Howard’s permit activity report.

The board congratulated the staff for all of the hard work working with the new developments.

Chris Haltom, director of administrative services presented to the village board the financial report for the year ending Dec. 31, 2017 for the general fund, golf course and utilities.

“It is good news for most of the areas,” said Haltom. “Overall it was a very good year for the general fund and the three utilities.”

He said the golf course did not make as much money.

Haltom said the general fund had excess revenue over expenditures of $54,689.

The three Utilities reported excellent with operating income in all three funds at adequate levels.

The Golf Course reported a net loss of $7,809. The restaurant operating loss was almost $40,000. Golf operations earned about $32,200.