City moves forward on housing development

The Clarion City Council discussed the city’s proposed housing development at their meeting on Oct. 21, and approved an amendment allowing the I&S Group to start the design process for the development. The city is proposing to extend Willow Drive and 13th Avenue, and create 22 lots in that area.

“We are to the point now where I&S has done a whole lot of the work as far as engineering and design,” said Councilman Kirk Rier, member of the finance committee. “It’s time to proceed with how we’re going to pay for it. “

The plan is to have a newly-formed private group, I2I, purchase and own the property for the housing development, because it’s easier to for a nonprofit group to sell lots than it is for the city to sell lots. The costs that I2I will cover are estimated around $360,000. I2I plans on purchasing the land with rural development grants from Prairie Energy and CornBelt Energy. Both offer grants of up to $150,000, covering up to 80 percent of the total cost of a project. 

Read the full article in the Oct. 24 edition of the WCM.