By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
With lengthy foreclosure proceedings now out of the way, Whitewater officials are beginning to review their options for a dormant Elkhorn Road property that one time was eyed for a grocery store, gas station and restaurant.
City and county officials worked in tandem to acquire the property from would-be developer Elkhorn Ventures LLC after back taxes were not paid on the parcel at a three-way intersection at Elkhorn and Bluff roads and Milwaukee Street.
Early this month, the Common Council voted to purchase the property from the county for $588,824. With the city again in control of the site, officials have transferred oversight of the parcel to the Community Development Authority.
“The goal is to put the property back into production,” CDA Chair Jeff Knight said at a meeting Oct. 8. He asserted the council forwarded the future review of the site to his appointed body because of the skill set in planning and development.
As a precursor to exploring future uses for the property, the CDA asked Executive Director Pat Cannon to draft a request for proposals (RFP) document. CDA members will review it in the months ahead before a formal request is made.
In other business Oct. 8, the CDA:
• Agreed to extend a loan agreement with the Learning Depot childcare center, 560 Elkhorn Road. Leaders of the Learning Depot first enacted an agreement with the CDA in 2005, and it is up for renewal once every three years.
CDA members praised the organization during their most recent meeting. They asserted leaders met a condition for job creation years ago.
• Discussed, but did not take any action, on a restaurateur’s request for a loan request through community development block grant (CDBG) funds. The issue was discussed in closed session, and the name of the applicant has not been revealed.
Cannon has been directed to make an undisclosed offer to the applicant. If accepted, the CDA could take further action.
• Approved portions of the CDA’s 2015 operating budget, which is poised to increase anywhere from 3 to 3.5 percent. The 2014 budget hovered around $144,000, and the 2015 budget could total $149,000.
Cannon drafted the budget and suggested a line item for legal expenses increase slightly. But Cannon’s suggestion to decrease the marketing budget was met with skepticism since a community branding initiative has yet to be completed.
Knight said he would like a more detailed list of marketing activities planned for next year. He also asked that the branding effort stay at the forefront since there has been interest of it within the community as a means of promoting tourism and other types of activities.
• Approved a revised memorandum of understanding for the city Innovation Center and Technology Park. CDA members said the MOU document was revised to reflect the evolution of both facilities.
• Continued discussion of the possible creation of a for-profit corporation known as Growing Whitewater’s Economy. CDA officials said leaders of several local companies have expressed interest in taking part in the effort.
