By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
HOWARD – The village board passed a resolution Monday, Nov. 9, declaring 10 properties in Howard as being blighted.
The board’s action follows up a motion approved Oct. 26 to request state approval to use its revolving loan fund money to demolish the Green Bay Corp. building, frequently referred to as the pickle factory, and use the remaining funds to buy blighted properties.
Village Administrator Paul Evert said the State of Wisconsin has decided to close all local revolving loan funds started by Community Development Block Grants, so the village would need to return the money to the state by the end of this year, unless it is allowed to use the money for projects eligible under federal community development block grant standards to benefit low to moderate income individuals or to eliminate blight.
Evert said the fund has a cash balance of almost $700,000 and one outstanding loan of just under $200,000.
“Our intention has been to only purchase property from willing sellers,” he said. “We have a number of properties listed, the value of which is greater than the amount of money we have available for us to spend.”
Upon taking down the Green Bay Corp. building, Evert said that would leave the village with a balance of about $500,000 to $600,000.
The properties identified as being blighted were included in a map Evert provided to the board.
According to a timetable in the agenda packet, the board will hold a public hearing Dec. 7 related to applying for a grant with the Department of Administration anticipated to award the grant in early January.