Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter
Following months of intermittent discussion and staunch opposition from residents, talks of relocating homes at Whispering Pines Mobile Home Park have been tabled indefinitely.
“I asked for this to be shelved in June and I’m not sure how it made its way back on the agenda,” stated mayor Bill Bialecki, during Tuesday’s meeting of the city’s Redevelopment Authority.
Prior to discussion Tuesday, three park residents addressed the committee to once again voice opposition to the relocation of 19 mobile homes, to clear the way for re-development by the city.
“I would like this to be shelved again, this time indefinitely,” Bialecki continued. “Not only for those 19 people involved but for the cost of the project, including the cost to move these trailers.”
As the mayor alluded to, the project would have come with a $750,000 price tag, $150,000 of which would be a development incentive for removal of the 19 mobile homes and construction of a new maintenance garage.
The committee followed Bialecki’s lead unanimously.
In other matters Tuesday, the committee unanimously approved a lease proposal with the Merrill Housing Authority for a swap of services, in exchange for use of the parking lot at 401 W. Main St.
According to documents released by the city, under a standard lease agreement the Housing Authority would pay the city $466/anually for use of the lot.
However, on Tuesday Finance Director Kathy Unertl explained the proposal calls for the city to enter into a swap of services agreement with the Housing Authority. In exchange for using the vacant lot upon demolition of the former Lincoln Community Bank building, the Housing Authority would be responsible for holding standard insurance on the lot as well as performing snow and ice removal and some minor grass mowing and weed trimming.
“This would be cheaper than for us to pay our city crews to perform these responsibilities,” Unertl added.
The measure will now proceed for Personnel and Finance Committee approval.