BROKEN BOW – The Broken Bow City Council held its first meeting of July Tuesday evening with one idea on its mind: housing. Councilman Myers was absent and excused.
The biggest-ticket item was an amendment to the development of the city’s ongoing Eagle Crest Subdivision project; as it progresses, the Custer Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) is pitching in to help keep the idea rolling.
The current plan, with CEDC’s help, is to apply and allocate TIF dollars for the development. In a public hearing regarding the initiative, CEDC Executive Director Keith Ellis said that the reasoning behind TIF allocation is to make housing in Broken Bow truly affordable.
“The ultimate goal was to reduce the overall cost per lot from a very significant dollar amount to now between $7,000 and $10,000, which would be affordable in Broken Bow.”
Ellis went on to say that TIF funding would provide a chance for quicker, larger-scale development as opposed to similar, grant-funded CEDC projects that have cropped up over the past year and could address some significant housing issues facing the city.
“We’ve been doing housing grants through the Department of Economic Development, but those are one or two houses at a time. It’s been a real challenge to keep up with the demand that’s out there. The only way to change that for our workforce housing is through a TIF project like this.”
The council passed the amendment to the Eagle Crest project unanimously, as well as another housing initiative: 2 houses and a garage at 1245 North 15th Street will be leveled so that an eight-apartment complex can be constructed. The units will have 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms each, and off-street parking.
Anna Martin of the Housing Authority presented the annual housing report; over the past year, the authority had installed new air conditioning units in Custer Heights and successfully completed a full remodel of an abandoned unit, and appliances had been upgraded throughout the building.
Martin said the future projects for the Housing Authority include paving, window replacement, and bathroom remodels, among many others. Additionally, she asked the council for a waiver of PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) funds to be placed in a CD until such a time when the funds could be used to benefit both the Housing Authority and the City of Broken Bow. Currently, about $203,000 are held in CDs through the program.
In other communications, Terry Glaze proposed the construction of 2 bronze plaques to honor two World War II pilot groups in Veterans Memorial Park; all labor and concrete would be provided, thus costing the city next to nothing.
The council could not vote directly to move forward with the proposal; however, it did recommend the matter be placed before the Park Board for a decision.
Megan Crawford of Broken Bow’s Super Kids Club invited the mayor and council to an event later in July which showcases what Broken Bow’s youth imagine the city to be in the year 2043.
Jennifer Waterhouse was approved as Broken Bow’s newest City Treasurer, and Jeff Withrow its newest member to the Board of Public Works.
The meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
