Persistence, perseverance and patience have been rewarded. After several years of dogged planning it looks like housing for seniors may finally be built in Tofte.
Dick Grabko and Gary Lamppa of Community Connections came before the Tofte town board on February 13, 2014 and informed the supervisors that the Iron Range Resources Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) had awarded the township a grant of $230,000. The money will be used to put in infrastructure for a planned 12-unit senior housing project expected to cost $1.9 million to develop.
Originally the township was hoping to receive $350,000 from the IRRRB but due to a shortfall in the IRRRB’s budget for this grant cycle, it was pared down. Grabko said the township could reapply for the remaining $120,000 in the IRRRB’s next grant cycle.
The township plans on renting housing units at market rates and will finance the rest of the project through general obligation abatement bonds with a 20-year repayment plan. Currently township supervisors have been working with Dynamic Homes on the design of houses. To get a better idea of what might be built in Tofte, township supervisors toured Mill Stream Village in St. Joseph, Minnesota, looking at the layout of those senior living and assisted living houses.
Senior housing options will allow older residents a chance to live in their home town when they are unable to take care of their house, said Supervisor Paul James.
“We are trying to get the cost of the houses down as low as possible and yet maintain quality,” said James.
“At first we were looking at building 10 housing units but now we are looking at 12 because our architect thought it would be a better fit for the area where they will put them up,” James said.
Senior housing will be on the agenda at the township annual meeting on March 11, 2014.
“We will have a presentation with preliminary designs and we hope costs for the public at our annual meeting,” James said.
A representative from Dynamic Homes should be at the annual meeting to answer questions, said James.
Plans are to build the 12 houses on the east side of the 29 acres owned by the township. The land adjoins the Birch Grove Community Center property.
“We are going to save parcels on the west side in case this goes well and we need to expand it in the future,” said James.
In other matters:
. The town board discussed what its options are regarding the Birch Grove tennis court that was built improperly last summer. Builders followed the architect’s plans but the slope of the court is wrong and while it isn’t too noticeable to beginners, seasoned tennis players find it to be less than perfect.
Cost to repair the court has been estimated at $70,000.
The township has tried to work with the architect, Tim Meyer, but couldn’t come to a resolution.
“We discussed going to arbitration with our architect but our attorney told us it could cost between $20,000 and $30,000. We decided against that,” James said.
“But there is some positive news. We will resurface the court and plant shrubs around it. We are also going to stripe it for a game called Pickle. Players use paddles instead of rackets. It’s slower and can be played by less mobile players. If it catches on we might stripe the hockey rink and the indoor gym so that people can play Pickle in the winter,” said James.
. Three firefighters are currently taking training and two first responders are taking classes, said James.
. A budget workshop for supervisors and fire and rescue squad leaders will be held on February 26 at 5 p.m.
. On April 16 at 5 p.m. there will be a Board of Equalization meeting at the town hall.
“This isn’t a place for people to come and say they don’t want to pay taxes. Everyone has to pay taxes. This is a place where people can come and ask why they are being taxed at a certain rate and, hopefully, get some answers,” said James.
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