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Friday, December 13, 2024
HomeBusinessCollaboration and Wise Money Management: The Lake County Housing Report

Collaboration and Wise Money Management: The Lake County Housing Report

The work to create a financial foundation to address the critical need for affordable housing in Lake County got a serious boost one year ago when Matthew Johnson came on board as Exec­utive Director of the Lake Coun­ty Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Johnson works with a Board made up of Richard DeR­osier, Paul Iverson, Susan Rosette, Robert Entzion, Rick Goutermont and supported by Executive As­sistant Lisa DeRosier. Together they have made significant head­way in addressing the need for housing in Lake County. Under Johnson’s direction, the LCHRA has been able to initiate a number of housing projects in Two Har­bors and Silver Bay. They have secured funding for much need­ed rehabilitation of the Lakeview apartments, have launched a plan for the Silverpoint II apartment complex in Silver Bay, have an economic redevelopment proj­ect in the works in Two Harbors and have other “irons in the fire” across the county to address the need for housing.

Foundational to the progress be­ing made was an investment of $2 million to the Lake County HRA by the Lake County Board. That investment has made it possible for discussions about the need for housing to become actual hous­ing projects. Readers may recall that as the LCHRA’s projects are completed and sold, the money from sales will return to the HRA to help fund subsequent projects.

Discussions about money man­agement are frequently on the agenda at LCHRA Board meet­ings. Last week the Board ad­opted resolutions authorizing the purchase of two six month certif­icates of deposit in the amount of $100,000 and $300,000 respec­tively. Due to the fact that high interest rates are currently being offered on CDs, the return on this investment will be significant. Funds generated from these in­vestments will help to grow the money that the HRA has to work with and will go toward purchas­ing land for a single-family home pilot project and for future hous­ing projects that the Board has planned on tax-forfeited land in Silver Bay. There are additional plans for a development next year in Two Harbors.

It is encouraging to see the Lake County HRA making strong progress in their mission. Their collaborative efforts and wise money management are paying off in terms of meeting the press­ing need for affordable housing in our area.

The Lake County HRA Board meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 6 PM in the Split Rock River Room at the County Service Center in Two Harbors.

Rick Evans
Rick Evans
My wife, Marsha Kinzer (a proud DEHS Greyhound, class of ‘77) introduced me to the North Shore on vacation in 2012. It became our regular escape when the stress of our careers in education became overwhelming, and it didn’t take me long to fall in love with the breathtaking scenery, the nice people, and “salad” containing Jell-o and marshmallows. So you can either blame or thank my loving wife for my being here, because when we needed to choose a retirement hometown, Marsha advocated hard for her beloved Duluth, and here we are, six months later. Yes, this will be my first northern Minnesota winter. Yes, I welcome thoughts and prayers. Government, public policy, and social justice weighed heavily in the curriculums I taught at the high school level over a thirty-eight year career. In addition, we were a laboratory school focused on critical thinking in conjunction with technical and scientific writing. So when I found myself adrift on the great ocean of retirement and spied a raft, I jumped at the chance to take up what I’d left behind…minus the bad teachers’ lounge coffee. My position at the NSJ allows me to combine my passions for government and writing, and it’s helping me to feel less out of touch in new surroundings. When I’m not being “Cubby” (Marsha’s favorite new nickname for this green reporter) I enjoy pointing at eagles and saying, “Look, honey. There’s an eagle.” I’ve had an active side hustle as a professional musician for almost as many years as Charlie Parr. As a guitarist/singer/songwriter, I graced the stages of clubs and festivals around southern Wisconsin, including an appearance on A Prairie Home Companion. Should I even mention A Prairie Home Companion, or am I the only one here old enough to remember what that is? Look! An eagle!
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