Two triplexes being proposed in South Point

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Residents looking for senior housing options could soon have a new place to call home—at least that is the hope for Barbara Dacy of the Otter Tail County HRA and the City of New York Mills.

During its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 11, the NY Mills City Council heard from Dacy about a plan to construct two senior housing triplex units in South Point. The two lots would be on the south side of South Point Drive and would provide additional housing options for senior citizen residents. 

Prior to moving forward with the project the HRA is attempting to attain a grant from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to construct affordable senior rental housing in three locations in the county, including NY Mills. If the county receives the funding it will construct a pair of triplexes in NY Mills, Ottertail and Vergas. The project proposes constructing two one-bedroom units, and one two-bedroom unit on slab on grade construction. 

In order to be eligible to live in the unit, one person must be at least 55 years of age or older, with a gross annual individual income that does not exceed $55,900. 

The sale of the lots to the Otter Tail County HRA, which would then operate the senior housing units, is contingent on the HRA receiving the necessary grants from the MHFA. 

In other news

• Heard the monthly liquor store report, which showed that net revenues year to date are up slightly as a percentage of gross sales. Currently, before transfers, the liquor store shows net revenues year to date of $23,856.46, or 5.9 percent of gross sales. 

• Heard the monthly call report from the fire department, which showed the department responded to 25 calls for service last month. Among the calls was two fire calls and one hazardous pill call. 

• Heard the monthly police department report, which shows 174 calls for service with four citations, 33 warnings and one arrest. The council also approved the hiring of Logyn Tharaldson as a part-time police officer and accepted the resignation of Jason Hoaby. 

• Approved publishing an ordinance regarding calendar parking in NY Mills. The calendar parking would restrict overnight parking on certain sides of the street based on the day of the week. The goal would be to help city staff with things like timely snow removal as people will only be able to park on one side of the street for more than one day at a time. Residents who park on the wrong side of the street could be subject to having their vehicle towed, but in the past, NY Mills Police Chief Bobby Berndt said the department will focus on educating the public about the ordinance and not necessarily impounding vehicles immediately.  

• Approved moving forward with seal coating city streets for up to $52,000 this summer. 

• Heard the City of NY Mills has already received 154 Gopher State One Call tickets to date. Last year the city received 179 Gopher State One Call tickets for the entire year.