Chippewa County board approves $2.63 million increase for Hope Village conversion of Indian Head Motel amid safety and funding concerns

Chippewa County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 18 approved a resolution to add up to $2,628,217 to grant contract HSG 24-07 to fund Hope Village’s conversion of the Indian Head Motel into 27 efficiency apartments.

The funding increase, presented as Resolution 1-25, will be added to the existing grant contract between the State of Wisconsin and Chippewa County to complete conversion work and meet code requirements. County officials said the county will act as grant administrator; the Housing Authority/Hope Village will own and operate the property if the sale and permits proceed.

Why it matters: The project aims to create small, low-cost rental units for people transitioning from homelessness or otherwise income‑limited households at a time when county presentations and speakers described declining affordable housing supply and rising demand. Neighbors and several supervisors asked whether the site — a former motel half a mile from Southfield Elementary School — is appropriate for the proposed tenant population and how the property will be managed and screened.

Public concerns and Hope Village response

Several members of the public spoke during the meeting’s public-comment period. Luke Deutschlander, identified himself as a Chippewa Falls resident, raised community-safety and fiscal concerns and said many nearby elderly residents were unable to attend on short notice: “Most of the elderly people in the neighborhood…said that the meeting was actually too sudden for them to come here tonight and actually talk and voice their opinion,” Deutschlander said. He also warned that “there’s no such thing as free money,” arguing grants can reduce tax revenue for neighbors if nonprofit owners obtain tax exemptions.

Audie Stedman, also speaking as a resident, said he agreed with Deutschlander’s concerns about proximity to the school and the short notice for neighbors.

Hope Village board member Ruth Rosenow, who identified herself as a former director of the Chippewa County Housing Authority, told the board the motel currently has no tenant‑screening process and said Hope Village will implement one: “We will have a very thorough vetting process that will begin to take place, which doesn't occur at the hotel now,” Rosenow said. She said the converted units are intended primarily as single‑person efficiencies, that some households in special circumstances could temporarily use an efficiency, and that the project will support people graduating from Hope Village’s tiny‑home program by offering an independent rental step.

Supervisors pressed specifics during the discussion. Questions included whether the units would house women and children (Rosenow said families could rent but that the approximately 300‑square‑foot units are designed for individuals), lease length (officials said initial leases would be one year, converting to month‑to‑month after the first year), and how lease violations would be handled. Rosenow said Hope Village uses background checks, interviews, and local law‑enforcement input; she said the Chippewa Falls Police Department has assigned a detective to assist with vetting.

Funding, timeline and administration

County staff and Hope Village said the purchase agreement with the motel owner is in place and that a closing is scheduled for late spring if the county approves the grant amendment, the city issues a required special‑use permit, and the state awards the funds. Work funded by the grant would include installing kitchenettes in each unit, sprinkler systems, firewalls and other code upgrades; Hope Village said it retained an architect and will put rehabilitation work out to competitive bid.

County staff clarified that the grant funds pass through the state and will not be drawn from the county’s general fund. Hope Village said the grant includes federal ARPA‑derived funds administered by Wisconsin and managed through a regional CDBG program. Hope Village representatives said the grant requires an affordability period of 15 years and that at least 51% of units must be rented to households at or below 80% of county median income; the board heard a figure of about $35,000 as the county median income for a single person.

Board action and related votes

County leaders put Resolution 1-25 on the floor for a vote after discussion. The board approved the resolution; the meeting minutes record the resolution as passed.

Votes at a glance (other items taken during the same meeting) - Resolution 2-25: Approval of the 2025 county forest and trails work plan and authorization to apply for a County Forest Administration grant (state DNR). Approved. - Resolution 3-25: Authorize compensation and mileage reimbursement for up to 100 days of committee meetings in 2025. Approved (two‑thirds majority required, motion passed). - Human Resources Policy Manual revisions (multiple sections): Approved by the board with one exception (see separate article on the HR policy debate). Approved for all revised sections other than the contested military‑leave language. - Fire warden appointments for 2025: Approved. - County administrator appointment to the Traffic Safety Commission: Approved.

What’s next

Hope Village said closing would follow the city’s special‑use permit and the formal award of grant funds; renovation will be phased so some units remain available during work. Hope Village said it intends to own and operate the property and to use local contractors where feasible through a competitive bid process. Several supervisors said they support the project given Hope Village’s existing local track record but emphasized they wanted certainty on vetting and a clear path for eviction and enforcement that complies with fair‑housing law.

Ending: The board’s approval moves the project to the city permitting and state award phase. The county administrators, Hope Village and city staff will return to boards and committees as required for permits and contract execution.