Medford, Gilman seek grant funds for business improvements
Local businesses would get a boost in keeping up their buildings and properties under a proposed Fix-it Grant program.
The city of Medford will be partnering with the village of Gilman to try for a Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation grant to help local businesses with building improvements.
According to Billie Hartwig of the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce, the WEDC has money available for communities to apply for a grant of up to $250,000. Hartwig and the Chamber are working with the city on the grant process. The community would then have to create its own grant program.
Hartwig explained that they get additional points on the grant application by working with other communities. They reached out to both Gilman and Rib Lake and at this time Gilman was interested in joining in with the grant application.
At Monday’s city council committee of the whole meeting, council members voted to recommend going ahead with the grant process working with Gilman and the city’s community development authority (CDA).
If Medford is successful in getting the grant, the funds will be used to set up a local Fix-It Grant program. Under the draft rules, businesses and commercial building owners would be able to apply to receive up to $2,500 matching grants for building repairs and facade improvements.
In other business committee members: Recommended approving a new three-year lease with the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce for continued use of the organization’s current office on Perkins St. on the south end of Main Street. The city-owned historic building is the original location of the Medford Public Library. Under terms of the lease, the city will waive monthly rental payments.
• Recommended agreeing to sell another residential parcel in the Simek Addition at the south end of Pep’s Drive to the school district for the tech ed class to build a home on. Students will be working with architects to design the new home, which will include a basement. This would be the third home the city would work with the school’s shop classes to build. The first was completed earlier this year and currently has an accepted offer on it. The second home is currently under construction. If approved, students will be working on the design for the third home this winter with construction to begin next fall.
• Discussed having Dixon Greiner Realty sell remaining vacant lots in the Simek addition with a commission o $1,000 per lot. No action was taken.
• Recommended waiving the open container rules for the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce Adult Trick or Treating event to be held as part of Harvest Days on October 25.
• Recommended approving a Class B beer and a Class C wine license for the Yucca Club at 178 S. Main St. for Doug Gasek. This will allow the entertainment venue to sell beer and wine.
• Recommended renewing the three-year recycling cooperative agreement between Taylor County and the city of Medford. The recycling program has been effective for the city and it was recommended to approve extending it to December 31, 2027.
• Recommended approving installing a sewer main extension through the Ziggi’s Coffee property on N. 8th St. (Hwy 13). Site work on the parcel is being done this fall with construction on the building to take place in spring 2025. The plan calls for splitting the cost between the property owners and the city. The property owners will purchase the materials including the pipe and manhole at between $9,000 and $10,000 with the city paying for the expansion work at about $10,000.
• Held a public hearing on an amendment to the Wastewater Treatment Plant facility plan. The city is planning several upgrades to the plant including a new septic tank waste receiving tank, rehabbing the existing headworks and chemical feed buildings and constructing a new odor control unit. Because the projects could result in a potential sewer rate increase, the DNR required a public hearing to be held for the work. No members of the public came to the hearing.
