RC senior housing plan moves forward

By MaryHelen Swanson
A recent study indicated a need for more senior housing in Rush City, so the council is working toward that end by moving ahead with a project to build a complex in the low to moderate income levels.
Monday night, the council met with Chisago County HRA-EDA director Chris Eng who showed drawings of the senior housing project that is soon to become a reality in Center City.
That 24-unit building, with tuck under garages, community room, and other amenities, could probably be duplicated in Rush City, he said.
In fact, it would save money on the Rush City project by using the same design and blueprints as the Center City project.
Rush City officials have looked at several potential sites for a senior building, but it looks as if city-owned land off Jay Avenue would make the most sense.
The councilmembers realize that the Jay Avenue site is farther away from businesses than the they would like, but they realize that land closer in would be expensive. They also believe that many seniors are still driving cars and can get around without being within walking distance of shopping.
The advantages of the Jay Avenue property are that it is city-owned and that there would be room for a second phase, the construction of assisted living units. Assisted living housing being another request in the survey.
The senior housing is being planned for the low to moderate income, but as Eng pointed out, will not be a subsidized rent facility.
The only subsidy would be through a Small Cities Development Program for construction that would help keep the rent costs lower.
Requirements for living in the housing would be 62 and older and fitting within the Small Cities program income guidelines, which is somewhere around $38,000 for two.
By consensus, the council directed Eng to move ahead in the process of bringing this senior housing project to the city.
In other business, the council:
ï Learned that four bids were received for the northeast utilities project and that all four exceeded the engineerís estimate by at least $60,000. City Administrator Daniel Hoffman told the councilmen he and city engineer Bob Moberg are still talking about what to do next. The city could reject all bids, as it has a right to do, and rebid in the fall. Moberg was expecting more bids and lower bids. Hoffman said he would bring more information to the next meeting.
ï Held a public hearing, with no public comments, to close out the down payment housing grant program. In the three years it has been available to citizens of the city, only two were able to take advantage of the grant program.
ï Adopted a resolution for VFW charitable gambling.
ï Paid bills in the amount of $72,710.63.
ï Approved the hiring of Duane Westlund as part-time bartender.
ï Received a letter from residents of Rush Oaks commending the city for providing services at the senior center and especially for the work that Margit Hedberg does for the program.
ï Learned from Councilman David Bengtson that there is a resident concerned about police protection and a resident asking that the area around the wooden bridge by the walking path be cleaned up. The council might seek help from Sentence to Service (STS) for clean up.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com