NEW: HOUSING COMING TO FREEMANâS WEST SIDE
JEREMY WALTNER – PUBLISHER
Dan Herrboldt, who has been with Freeman Lumber Company for more than 46 years and has been manager of the yard for the past 26, stood before the Freeman City Council last Wednesday, April 7 and shared with city officials his perspective on the housing needs in the community.
“I can’t tell you how many times in the last 10 years — even longer than that — that I’ve had people in my office saying, ‘I’d love to build a home,’” Herrboldt told city officials.
The few lots that may have been available, he said, were either too small or in parts of the city that weren’t conducive to the construction of new homes, so that answer was regularly, “there are absolutely no lots.”
“It’s time after time after time,” Herrboldt said. “We didn’t know what to tell them; we just kept hoping that something would eventually happen. And, finally, here we go.”
Herrboldt was among a number of people at last week’s meeting speaking strongly in favor of the city moving forward with a new housing development — which it ultimately did. The council unanimously approved a $97,200 contract with Stockwell Engineering for a survey and development plan for 19 lots on the west side of Freeman, just off Cedar Street west of the city’s water tower.
The project was finalized the following day — on Thursday, April 8 — when the Freeman Community Development Corporation (FCDC) and property owner Lee Larsen both signed a purchase agreement for the sale of the land.
The funds for the FCDC purchase were made available by the Freeman Growth Foundation, an organization with a goal of, in part, “improving residential areas by making them more attractive to its residents and families and to encourage new construction of homes and remodeling of existing homes.”
Mayor Mike Walter said that, depending on the weather, dirt work could begin as soon as this summer with homes being built sometime next year.
“I don’t see why we can’t address this problem immediately so houses can be built sometime in 2022,” said Walter, who won election as mayor last year. “Everybody, almost without exception, when I passed my petition around and asked what the city needs, said no place to build houses was the No. 1 complaint — by far.
There is a sense of emergency here,” he stressed. “There is a dire need for this.”
Jeff Buechler, president of the FCDC, told the council at last week’s meeting that a housing development has been a priority for the organization and that they have been working closely with the Freeman Growth Foundation to make it financially feasible. The city’s support, he said, would be the third arm.
“We believe it is vital for the community to see FCDC, the growth foundation and the city working together jointly,” he told the council. “We’re hoping this will show that we are looking out for the betterment of the community as a whole.”
“In order for the businesses to development and the schools to thrive,” he said, “we need to have that housing development come to town.”
Randy Koerner, who started Koerner Construction in Freeman more than 40 years ago and has been actively involved with FCDC, was among those who spoke strongly in favor of the housing development.
“We kicked around ideas for many, many years and this really looks like a good opportunity,” he said. “One of our goals is to make the infrastructure as cost effective as possible, so more lots, less road.”
Koerner said there would be a cost-benefit to the city, which would fund the infrastructure but benefit from sales tax and utilities in perpetuity.
Additionally, the proceeds from the sale of lots would be split 50/50 between the city and FCDC “so we can put a kitty together and do this again in the future.”
“We’ve got to get going; there’s definitely a demand,” Koerner continued. “People are going to find an alternative — I think a lot of them already have — but others are stepping in.
“It’s a do-or-die situation. We can’t be sitting here spinning our wheels. We need to move forward, and this is the perfect opportunity.”
Walter noted the property is ideal for development because it’s relatively inexpensive to develop — it’s adjacent to sewer hookup, on high ground, and will require minimal dirt work.
“This is by far the most buildable land I’ve seen anybody consider in a long time,” said councilor Charly Gering. “I’d like to hear more about how we’re going to finance this. Where’s the money going to come from?”
Councilor Lonnie Tjaden suggested the survey by Stockwell Engineering could be paid for using part of the $270,000 in a dedicated fund in the city’s budget to promote Freeman, while the cost of infrastructure would be paid for by self-supporting funds.
“Sewer is going to come out of sewer, water is going to come out of water, streets are going to come out of streets,” he said. “It’s the only way you’re going to do it. And we’ll build that into the budget for what we’re going to do next year.
“There are funds that may have to be moved around, but there are more than ample funds to take care of it.”
“I think it’s essential that Freeman moves forward with housing,” said councilor Blaine Saarie, who made the motion to approve the contract with Stockwell Engineering contingent on the signing of the purchase agreement between the FCDC and Larsen. “We’re not going to grow if we don’t have places for people to (live).”
After the vote, Dean Dreessen noted the cooperation between the FCDC, Freeman Growth Foundation and city of Freeman that has let to this development.
“We hope this continues as an example of what can happen when all the entities work together and cooperate for the benefit of the city of Freeman,” he said.
For more on the city of Freeman’s April 7 meeting, see the notice that starts on page 8B.
