By Robert Williams

Editor

Daycare continues to be the hot topic of the Vergas Economic Development Authority (EDA)/Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) meetings. Community and Economic Development Specialist Maddi Petrick and CEDA Regional Manager Jordan Grossman have both been attempting to secure a location to provide daycare services in Vergas.

“We have some things moving in a direction, at least,” Petrick said.

Her report included a review of Phase I that included meetings with a local church and the Fire Marshal to determine what was needed to be able to host a daycare.

An architectural firm will be needed to create a plan, according to Petrick. That plan would then be forwarded to the Fire Marshal for approval and then to the licensing service.

“We’re in the create and plan stage with the architects,” Petrick said.

Bids are being sought from regional firms. Costs vary from hourly rates totaling $7,000-9,000 or direct fees ranging from $5,000-$10,000.

“It could go more or it could go less,” said Petrick.

Petrick advised going the hourly rate, which would be with the city’s architectural firm Widseth.

Petrick also provided three different funding methods for Phase I: a League of Minnesota Cities $5,000 grant; Otter Tail Power and Arvig Foundation grants.

“Are we prepared to fund it ourselves or in another way?” said Petrick.“They’re not sold on this quite yet,” said Petrick. 

The majority of the church board is in favor of the project, but there are dissenting views on the board also, according to Petrick’s report.

There are also questions about accessibility at the church.

“You’re not going to get a ‘for sure’ from them until they know how much actual construction is going to cost and the only way to figure that out is to go through this first phase first,” said Petrick.

After a roundtable discussion on potential other options and the ramifications of investing in daycare as a city, Albright noted that daycare is an important issue in Vergas, but it takes a lot to run it.

“I’m guessing the church is kind of having the same questions,” he said. “How far do we go down this road?”

Petrick brought up the idea of pursuing information pertaining to what other municipalities are doing in the daycare realm, along with the complexities of the issue. The only real consensus is that more communication is needed between all parties before proceeding.

HRA member Paul Sonnenberg indicated he was willing to open a dialogue with church board members. Petrick would then follow up at a later date.

Improvement grants

The HRA still has improvement grants available for local businesses to use for exterior and facade updates. 

The maximum grant allowed is $5,000, that is paid out when a paid invoice for the work is submitted to the HRA. Contact the city office for more information.