Daycare focus continues as top priority for Vergas board

File photo
Paul Sonnenberg and Bruce Albright were appointed as Vice President and President of The Vergas EDA / HRA for the calendar year of 2026.

By Robert Williams

Editor

The Vergas Economic Development Authority (EDA)/Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) elected officers during its first meeting of the 2026 on Wednesday, Jan. 7.

City Council Liaison Bruce Albright was nominated and voted in as President for 2026 with his extensive knowledge of city operations noted as a top reason by Vanessa Perry. Albright is replacing DuWayne Ditterich who completed his term in December and elected to now return to the board. Also departing after 2025 was Joy Summers.

Paul Sonnenberg will be the acting Vice President, Julie Lammers is the Secretary Treasurer and Perry will be the Assistant Treasurer.

There are two new members, former EDA/HRA President Kevin Zitzow and Refine Homes co-owner Jennifer Carlson. Mayor Julie Bruhn was also in attendance.

The EDA/HRA also changed their meeting schedule from 2 p.m.-5:30 p.m., on the first Wednesday of each month. Meetings are open to the general public and are held at the Vergas Government Services Center on Main Street.

Daycare

The EDA/HRA continues to make daycare the top priority in 2026. In 2025, the board explored options with local churches and using the Event Center before examining empty lots in town to build a daycare center.

An empty lot next to Jesus Little Lambs pre-school became the best opportunity and the board has put $20,000 down in earnest money on the future purchase from owners Greg and Ruby Schmid.

Preliminary talks began in October of last year with early discussions revolving around if the Schmid’s would retain ownership and lease the property, or sell directly.

“We understand the importance of it and definitely want to work something out to get something done because we have grandkids that might have their families here in the next five years and we want a daycare available for them too,” Greg Schmid said at the October meeting.

Lammers announced during the January meeting that the EDA/HRA has a purchase agreement for one year on the lot and has put down the first $1,000.

Lammers also discussed the EDA/HRA having researched other existing daycare facilities in the region including a four-plex in Ottertail, a remodel in New York Mills and a Dynamic Homes modular home in Parkers Prairie. 

The EDA/HRA has received a quote from Dynamic Homes for approximately $172,000 for the home itself. Another $30,000 would be added for requested upgrades and delivery fee. A duplex option would inflate the entire price to near $400,000, according to Lammers.

Daycares are also mandated to have a specific playground area and the Vergas Lions have presented a possible matching grant opportunity up to $250,000. If the EDA/HRA gives the Lions the go on the grant the Lions would begin fundraising and the money raised would be matched if they received the grant.

Lammers noted the daycare in Ottertail utilized a Lions grant for funding.

Vergas Lions District Governor Jay Norby provided information on the Lions International matching grant program at the October meeting. The minimum that can be applied for is $10,000 and a maximum of $150,000.

Other grant options are in play.  In late 2025, CEDA Representative Maddi Clavin reported on  her successful application to make Vergas a candidate for the Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP), an innovative community engagement process designed to increase the supply of high quality affordable child care in rural communities.

Otter Tail County is also offering the Child Care Capacity Grant Program that provides financial support to new providers who will add child care slots and existing providers who will retain the current supply of child care slots.

Zitzow brought up the question of if the EDA/HRA has full support of the City Council on this project, citing a lack of that in the past.

“I would be shocked if it wasn’t supported,” said Mayor Bruhn.

She also noted the importance of daycare in Vergas as noted in the city’s most recent comprehensive plan.

The board passed a resolution for Lammers to request a resolution of support from the council later this month.

Board members are planning to look more closely at possible building options later this month with site visits of existing structures and with Dynamic Homes on potential builds.