Advertisement
Dale Klemme, executive director of Community Development Alternatives, said the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program money was awarded based on a plan drafted by his agency along with village officials.
The federal money will cover 75 percent of the $740,000 project.
Wisconsin Emergency Management will cover
12.5 percent of the cost and money from a Wisconsin Department of Commerce grant or other state money will make up the remainder, Klemme said.
“Our objective here is to cover that remaining 12.5 percent with something other than local tax dollars, and I think we’ve done that,” Klemme said.
With the needed money on hand, Klemme said, an appraiser on contract with the village has already visited some of the properties and more visits are expected in the coming days.
The village has a few details to work out, but money should get to the property owners in the next 30 to 45 days, Klemme said.
The 10 homes in question have been vacant since
the August floods, Klemme said.
Once purchased, the properties will be cleared. The village has new rules in place prohibiting anyone from building on the property, he said.
Community Development Alternatives has been working with the village of Chaseburg on a similar plan, Klemme said.
Community Development Alternatives is a nonprofit organization that focuses on economic development in Vernon, Crawford and Grant counties.
Dan Springer can be reached at dspringer@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8269.
