County, city look at three-plex for transitional housing

Offer to purchase would depend on getting permit from city planning

A vacant three-plex in the city of Medford is being considered for a proposed transitional living facility center to serve housing needs in the area.

Taylor County Supportive Housing is working with a special committee made up of county and city representatives to select a location for the Taylor House.

After public outcry last month, the county rejected a proposed Main Street location for the shelter and the committee was quickly formed to look at options.

Committee members established parameters excluding areas of the community such as the business districts from being considered. A list of options was then developed with the members of TCSH listing them over the past few weeks and checking to see what was available.

Of the locations visited, Jessica Mudgett of TCSH said the committee felt the three-plex at 232 S. Fourth St. would most meet their needs.

Mudgett said the building, which is in the process of being renovated, could possibly be renovated to hold up to 12 individuals either as singles or families. Because the upstairs unit is currently gutted to the studs, it could be built out with shared common areas and locked bedrooms similar to a shelter in Merrill. In addition, she said the different entrances would allow for the separation of women and families on the first floor and men on the second floor with the two separated and locked.

Taylor House is set to be purchased and renovated using community development block grant funds. The county and TCSH already have the grant funds needed to purchase a property but have been facing the challenge of finding a suitable location that is within walking distance of shopping needs and employment. The goal of the facility will be to serve as a place homeless individuals and families can get back on their feet and transition into permanent homes.

Mayor Mike Wellner, who serves on the special committee agreed that the property is one of the better options looked at. He said the exterior of the property was looking run-down from being vacant and felt the planned renovations would be an improvement for it and the neighborhood. The parcel also sits on a larger lot for that portion of town so it is separated from its neighbors more.

With a deadline for the grant funds to be spent by fall 2022, the committee gave its approval to a resolution for the county board to issue a formal offer to purchase. At the same time, and under the suggestion of city planner Bob Christensen, the current owner and TCSH will begin the process to get a conditional use permit from the city planning commission for the property to allow for the shelter to operate there. The planning commission has sole authority to issue or deny a conditional use permit following a public hearing process. Christensen said depending on getting the application turned in, a hearing a decision could be made on April 5. Any offer to purchase would be contingent on the permit being issued.

Other committee members also felt there needed to be a home inspection done to determine if there was anything structurally wrong with the building as a condition of the purchase. “You don’t want to spend the money and find you have a bad building,” said committee chairman Chuck Zenner.

Mudgett said she was concerned with if the inspection funds could come out of the grant and said TCSH doesn’t have the funds to do it on their own. She said a typical home inspection ran $350 to $400 but with the larger square footage of the three-plex she said she expected it would cost more than that.

County board chairman Jim Metz and Wellner suggested the city and county could split the cost of the inspection because it is a shared project between the two entities. The city and county will also work together on the wording of the letter that goes out to all nearby property owners as part of the conditional use permit process so that it includes the notification wording required by the community development block grant program which is funding the project.

The next county board meeting is scheduled for April 20. Depending on the outcome of the planning commission, board members could approve the intent to purchase at that time.