Board approves $3.5M notes, $1.5M CDBG conversion funds for Hope Village and five ordinances; appointments confirmed

Chippewa County Board members took multiple formal actions on Sept. 10, approving bond financing, allocating CDBG conversion funding for affordable housing, waiving second readings and approving five local ordinances, and confirming administrator appointments.

Promissory notes — award finalized The board approved Resolution 308-24 to award the sale of $3,500,000 in general obligation promissory notes. Brad Vigot, managing director at Baird (the county’s underwriter), told the board the county locked an interest rate of 3.09%, about 56 basis points lower than the June planning estimate, and that the lower rate translated to roughly $91,000 less interest cost over the life of the issue. “This will be finalized tonight…we were able to lock in an interest rate of 3.09%,” Brad said. The financing maintained the county’s AA1 rating from Moody’s; the presenter described fund balance, low leverage and a growing tax base as credit strengths. The board approved the resolution; the chair reported the approval was unanimous.

CDBG conversion funding for Hope Village The board approved Resolution 39-24 to add $1,500,000 under the county’s regional CDBG grant for a conversion project to create affordable housing for primarily one-bedroom/efficiency units. Jessica (housing authority staff) described the funds as usable for acquisition and rehabilitation and said at least 51% of units must remain affordable. Jessica said the building for conversion had not yet been identified and that Chippewa County Housing Authority would administer the grant for Hope Village. Board members asked about target populations, timing and neighborhood impact; Jessica said the grant period runs through the end of 2026 and that the county had a large local wait list for housing assistance. The motion to approve carried (vote tally not specified in the minutes).

Five ordinance amendments (second reading waived and approved) The board considered five ordinance amendments that align legal-notice provisions and update chapters across county code. For each ordinance the board first voted to waive the second reading and then to approve the ordinance. The ordinances included: - Ordinance 12-24: aligns notice rules in chapter 40-206 (abandoned property/police-related notices) with the updated section 2-3 publishing rules. - Ordinance 13-24: aligns notice language in chapter 30 (environment / nonmetallic mining). - Ordinance 14-24: floodplain ordinance adjustments (waiver noted as helpful to speed required public hearings). - Ordinance 15-24: shoreland ordinance revisions. - Ordinance 16-24: zoning ordinance amendments. Each ordinance passed after the board suspended the second reading and voted to approve; the chair announced the approvals during the meeting.

Other business - The board confirmed the county administrator’s appointments to the Local Emergency Planning Committee (motion carried). - The consent agenda, including routine items and the next meeting date, was approved earlier in the meeting. - The meeting adjourned on a board motion.

Ending Clerical and procedural votes dominated the latter half of the agenda; the two highest-profile items were the bond award (finalization of planned financing at a lower rate) and the CDBG allocation for Hope Village’s conversion project.