Vernon County panel forwards 2025 community development budget, reallocates unused grant funds and forms housing task force

The Vernon County Economic Development Committee advanced a set of administrative actions at its Oct. 3 meeting in Viroqua. The committee voted unanimously to forward the Community Development Department’s 2025 budget proposal to the County Finance Committee for review, approved reallocating unused 2023 Community Development Grant funds, granted multiple 90‑day project extensions, and authorized a Vernon County Housing Task Force as a subcommittee.

The committee’s most consequential administrative vote was to forward the department’s 2025 budget proposal. Committee Vice Chair David Strudthoff moved the motion and member Nathaniel Slack seconded; the committee voted to approve and send the proposal on to the Finance Committee for further review rather than enacting final budgetary authority at this meeting.

Committee members also reallocated $2,000 in unused 2023 Community Development Grant funds to the Village of Chaseburg, increasing that award to $9,345. That motion was made by David Strudthoff and seconded by Patrick Sullivan and passed unanimously.

On grant timelines, the committee granted 90‑day extensions for three 2023 Community Development Grant projects. Patrick Sullivan moved to grant extensions to the Village of De Soto and the Town of Union; the motion was seconded by Nathaniel Slack and approved unanimously. Separately, after staff described a request for more time from the Town of Greenwood, Bruce Kilmer moved and Patrick Sullivan seconded an additional 90‑day extension for that project; the motion passed unanimously.

The committee voted to establish the Vernon County Housing Task Force as a subcommittee of the Economic Development Committee. Amy Oliver presented a proposed membership list; Nathaniel Slack moved the formation, Bruce Kilmer seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. The action creates the task force as a subcommittee and does not by itself adopt a housing plan.

Administrative details reported during the meeting included a voucher payment summary in which Grants and Community Development staff reported total invoices paid in September of $41,459.27 and a department update from Amy Oliver that FEMA has lifted the Immediate Needs Funding restriction related to generator grants, meaning decisions on those grants are expected soon. Oliver also reported four applications received for Round 2 of the 2024 Community Development Grant, interest in Pre‑Disaster Flood Resilience Grant applications, and staff work on county endorsement letters for broadband grant applications.

The committee confirmed its next meeting for Nov. 7, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at noon.

Votes at a glance: - Approve Sept. 5, 2024 minutes: Motion by Bruce Kilmer; second Nathaniel Slack; approved unanimously. - Approve Aug. 1, 2024 minutes: Motion by David Strudthoff; second Nathaniel Slack; approved unanimously. - Forward 2025 Community Development Department budget to Finance Committee for review: Motion by Nathaniel Slack; second Patrick Sullivan; approved unanimously. - Allocate $2,000 in unused 2023 grant funds to Village of Chaseburg (total award $9,345): Motion by David Strudthoff; second Patrick Sullivan; approved unanimously. - Grant 90‑day extension to Village of De Soto and Town of Union for 2023 grant projects: Motion by Patrick Sullivan; second Nathaniel Slack; approved unanimously. - Grant 90‑day extension to Town of Greenwood for 2023 grant project: Motion by Bruce Kilmer; second Patrick Sullivan; approved unanimously. - Approve Vernon County Housing Task Force as subcommittee: Motion by Nathaniel Slack; second Bruce Kilmer; approved unanimously. - Adjourn: Motion by Nathaniel Slack; second Patrick Sullivan; approved unanimously.

(Individual roll‑call votes were not recorded in the minutes beyond the meeting attendance; motions are recorded as approved unanimously.)