Applications for Annandale’s fix-up grant program have fallen short of the number of grants available, according to a report by city administrator Mark Casey to the city council. The city received an $890,000 Small Cities Development Program grant in April 2003 from the state Department of Employment and Economic Development to rejuvenate downtown commercial buildings and homes in the city core. But Casey’s report on Monday, Oct. 4, from Wright County Community Action, which works with program applicants, said 13 single-family home projects are in progress, seven shy of the goal of 20 homes. Ten commercial building projects are in various stages, five short of the goal. And only one rental project is going compared to a goal of 10. “I just don’t know why more of these commercial properties are not stepping forward to take advantage of this,” Mayor Marian “Sam” Harmoning said. Council member Bruce Karg said the projects take a long time, three to six months, to get started. “It just gets so drawn out.” The report said according to Chris Schieber of WCCA there seems to be little interest in the rental grants. She believes the cost for undertaking commercial work is scaring owners away from doing their rental spaces too. Casey said in an interview later that the city may look at some boundary changes to open up the target area. The council will have to make that decision, he said. “We definitely want to utilize all the money available to us,” he said. If homeowners or business building owners think they might qualify, Casey suggested they call Schieber at WCCA, 963-6500. He said WCCA plans to do more advertising about the grants this month. In other action, the council: — Completed the regular monthly meeting in 12 minutes. Harmoning suggested beforehand that it might be the shortest in council history. — Accepted the resignation of full-time police officer Kurt Kowarsch, who has gone to work for the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. Police Chief Jeff Herr said later he has 75 applications to replace Kowarsch and he will interview applicants this week. He plans to hire another part-time officer in the foreseeable but not immediate future. — Voted to hire Greg and Steven Alberg as on-call snow plow operators at $16 an hour. — Approved a request from the Beautification Committee for $600 for winter plantings in five concrete planters downtown. — Approved an erosion control builder sign off form to get contractors to put up silt fences during construction. Without the silt fences and rock/gravel entrances, a significant amount of dirt is entering the storm sewers, a memo to the council said. — Agreed to send a city council representative to meetings of the School District Facility Planning Task Force. — Reviewed a letter that the city sent to some residents reminding them that their lawn must be established by the end of the first year of occupancy.
