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<br /> <br />Item 5.3. <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />Mayor and City Council <br /> <br />Pat Klaers, City Administr <br />September 13, 2004 l <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />Koehler House and Library Expansion Update <br /> <br />The city has recently taken ownership of the Koehler house next to the city library. At this <br />time the City Council needs to discuss if the city should spend some money on repairs for <br />health/ safety issues in order to rent out the house; or if the city should remove the house <br />now in anticipation of the library expansion project taking place within a few years. <br />Additionally, if the decision is to make repairs and rent out the house, then the next decision <br />for the City Council is whether or not it wants to make this house available to the Love Elk <br />River organization for transitional housing. <br /> <br />There are no details available yet regarding a library expansion project. This project has been <br />discussed in concept only for both design and financing. It is assumed that both the Bailey <br />house and the Koehler house will need to go when the library expansion project takes place. <br />The library expansion is not planned for 2005. It is possible that this expansion could <br />happen in 2006 but it is more likely to happen in 2007. In this regard, if a project happens in <br />2007 the Koehler house could be available for rent for about 30 months. (Also, please note <br />that a follow-up library expansion project is anticipated in the 2017-20 timeframe.) <br /> <br />The Mayor, Steve Rohlf, and Phil Hals walked through and evaluated the Koehler house on <br />August 2, 2004. Steve obtained information regarding health/ safety repairs that are required <br />in the plumbing and electrical areas. Phil put together information regarding windows, the <br />garage, the floor areas, and miscellaneous work. (Phil is the staff person responsible for <br />managing this city property.) In general terms, we are looking at needing to spend about <br />$10,000 to make this house "rentable." Phil will be at the Council meeting to share the <br />details of this information. <br /> <br />Love Elk River has indicated an interest in using this property for transitional housing. There <br />simply are not that many housing opportunities available for transitional housing but the <br />rent amount will be the big issue with this project. Love Elk River cannot afford a very high <br />rent for the Koehler house due to the high expenses for utilities. <br /> <br />s: \Council\Pat\2004 \Koehlerupdate091304.doc <br />