Saint Germain Housing Authority
Low Income Housing for the Elderly & Disabled

History
(Provided by Marv Anderson, Housing Authority Member, March 2019)

• 1982:  Several residents began researching senior housing options for the Town.
  • The Town Board created a committee to consider the feasibility for a project and agreed to pay the expenses involved in the study.
  • One of the first actions was to mail a questionnaire to all local residents, encompassing their interest, apartment size, services needed, etc. Response was “excellent."
  • The Eliason family donated property for the project.
• 1983: With the Town Attorney’s approval and in accordance with Wisconsin Statute 66.40, the Town Board adopted ordinance "H-1" establishing the Housing Authority.
  • Charter members Richard Mantei, Mark Voll, Carl Herrmann, Jean Seifried, and Betty Walsh were recognized.  Their first order of business was to establish by-laws.
  • Housing Authority members met with an architect to develop plans for a complex of 12 one-bedroom units.  A rep from Farmers Home Administration (FMHA) met with the Housing Authority to review applications, loans, etc.. Lots of paperwork…..application was ultimately approved.
    
• 1985:  August groundbreaking led to the first building being ready for occupancy in early 1986.
• The Housing Authority and Town Board agreed to the Town accepting an annual payment from the Housing Authority in lieu of property taxes.  That agreement remains in place today.
• The Housing Authority pays all its routine operating expenses while accumulating funds for projects such as parking lot maintenance, building maintenance and appliance/fixture upgrades.
  
• 1988: Construction of a second building consisting of 3 two-bedroom and 9 one-bedroom units was ready for occupancy in November following approval of a second FMHA loan.
  
• 1992: Construction of a third building consisting of 3 two-bedroom and 9 one-bedroom units was ready for occupancy in December following approval of a third FMHA loan.
• 2014: Francine Byrns, who for many years had provided dedicated service as the Housing Authority Executive Director, retired from that position, but remained an active member. Following a search for potential firms to assume management of the day-to-day operations, the Housing Authority contracted with A&M services of Crandon to provide on-site management once per week plus other property management services provided from its Crandon office. 
• As of 2019, the Housing Authority has three outstanding loans with a total balance of approximately $1 million.  Maintaining debt is necessary to qualify for federal Rural Development rent subsidy.
• Housing Authority members are appointed to 5-year staggered terms. As of September 01, 2021, the members are: Sue Kessrow-Chair; Marv Anderson-Vice Chair; Carolynn Brink-Secretary; Cookie Lough and Marion Janssen.
  
  

Housing Authority Bylaws
(adopted 02/08/2023)


Meeting minutes

2023
Feb	08	Agenda	Housing Authority
		Minutes
2022
May	11	Agenda	Housing Authority
		Minutes
Aug	10	Agenda	Housing Authority
		Minutes
Nov	09	Agenda	Housing Authority
		Minutes
Nov	29	Agenda	Housing Authority By-laws Meeting
		Minutes
2021
Feb	10	Agenda	Housing Authority
		Minutes
May	12	Agenda	Housing Authority
		Minutes
Jul	14	Agenda	Housing Authority
		Minutes
Aug	11	Agenda	Housing Authority
		Minutes
Nov	11	Agenda	Housing Authority
		Minutes
2020
Dec	07	Agenda	Housing Authority
		Minutes

 

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