By Kellen Olshefski
Correspondent
The City of Elkhorn Common Council recently voted in favor of allotting up to $2,000 to fund appraisal services for the site being considered for a potential senior center.
At its Aug. 3 meeting, the council voiced support for potentially pursuing a senior center with a portion of the $1.6 million in Federal Community Development Block Grant funds it had received previously and has to use prior to January of next year.
According to City Administrator Jim Heilman, the potential building at 329 N. Wisconsin St. in Elkhorn – which Heilman, Alderman Ron Dunwiddie and Recreation Director Karl Sorvick toured – would likely work well for a potential senior center.
Heilman said the business was previously a senior daycare center, but would require some remodeling to meet the needs of a senior center.
According to Heilman, while the building is split up into multiple rooms, it’s believed some of the walls could be removed to create a larger, open space.
He said he had spoken with Bill Henry of Kehoe-Henry & Associates, who said he would be willing to walk through the building to assess if the removal of the walls would be possible.
Heilman said the building also features another larger room that could be used for multiple programs such as senior exercises, senior classes and more. Across from that room is one that could be used for activities like playing cards, watching television and movies, and so on.
According to Heilman, the dining area and enlarged space could be used for a wide variety of activities, such as bingo.
Heilman also noted the property has a large backyard that would provide ample space for a parking area while leaving plenty of green space for outdoor activities.
“So, we have everything moving in the right direction,” Heilman said. “I think this is a good opportunity.”
He said with the project using federal grant dollars, the city would have to get an appraisal on the property, and its offer would then be based on the appraisal. Heilman said he reached out to an appraisal service the city has used in the past, which put forth a “hard quote” of $1,900.
“That will give us the starting point,” he said. “In the meantime, I would take Bill Henry in there and see if what we are talking about doing is feasible.”
Heilman said he would report back to the council with more information at the Sept. 8 meeting, at which time the council could determine if it would like to continue forward.
While the funding for the appraisal could come from block grant funds, Heilman said it would be wise to draw the $1,900 from the city’s community development fund instead because it could take a lengthy amount of time for the city to receive the $1,900 in federal funds.
In all for the project, Heilman estimates the city would spend $5,000 at most out of its community development funds, and the rest of the funding would come from that federal block grant.
A motion to move forward with the appraisal of the building with the cost not to exceed $2,000 was approved unanimously by the council.
