Commission approves $13,500 contract with Novogradic for county housing needs assessment

The Crawford County Commission authorized county staff to sign a $13,500 agreement with Novogradic to complete a housing needs assessment, with a 60-day delivery timeline and a required 50 percent retainer. County staff said Novogradic will begin work upon the county’s signature and that the company’s portal would be delivered within 60 days. The contract calls for half the professional fee up front ($6,750) and the remainder on delivery of the report. Staff told commissioners Novogradic may request additional information from county departments — for example, the clerk’s office or register of deeds — to compile the analysis. Why it matters: A housing needs assessment will inform planning and potential districting or development questions and could be used by planning staff and elected officials to set policy. Commissioners voted to approve the agreement and authorized the chairman to sign. Staff and commissioners discussed that the work could support future planning efforts, including whether newly platted but undeveloped areas could be added into county-defined districts if appropriate. No additional funding authorizations were recorded beyond the contract approval; the commission’s motion authorized the chairman’s signature to execute the agreement.