MERRILL, WI (WSAU) — Merrill Mayor Steve Hass has emphasized housing projects in his first two months in office.
“The city just purchased eight lots from Church Mutual over on Johnson Street,” said Hass. “We are going to send out RFP’s and let builders come in to show us what they would put on those lots. We’ll select whichever one fits that area best for single-family dwellings.”
Hass says the project is aimed at jump-starting new housing developments in the city as a way of increasing the tax base. He adds that the Church Mutual lots project is a slam dunk because the lots already have water, sewer, and road infrastructure built up to them, and they sit in a desirable neighborhood. “Hopefully we can get our taxes more in line so we can afford to bring in new things to Merrill. Grow our population, grow our tax base,” said Hass.
The city has also taken over some tax-delinquent lots from the county. Hass says they will all be made available to builders. Additionally, the city is still offering a tax incentive for anyone that builds a new house in the city located within or near a tax increment district.
Hass, who is a part-time Mayor, says there will be some Merrill representation at this week’s Central to Success Workforce Summit in Rothschild. He won’t be able to make it because of his other commitments, but he says he will be briefed on what was learned later on. “The City Administrator and Lincoln County Economic Development Direct will be there and they will brief me on what happened and what things we can look forward to.”
He’d also like to talk with other local Mayors about how they can work together for more affordable housing and other ways to attract and retain new talent in the local workforce.
Other topics Hass discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of video: Housing topics
11:00- Central to Success Workforce Summit
14:00- Parks and other outdoor plans
