Slinger Redevelopment Authority denies façade grant for 210 W. Washington, approves $1,000 for 611 E. Washington driveway

The Slinger Redevelopment Authority on Nov. 5 voted to deny a façade grant application for a roof replacement at 210 W. Washington St. and to approve a $1,000 grant for driveway reconstruction at 611 E. Washington St.

Administrator Margaret Wilber told the authority the two applications were “nontraditional” for the façade program but said the program permits consideration of projects within a half-mile radius of the redevelopment district. Board members debated whether a roof replacement and driveway work fit the program’s intent to fund visible exterior improvements to downtown properties and whether the requests were maintenance rather than enhancements.

Member Angelina Iturrian moved and Member Sherry Schaefer seconded a motion to deny the application for 210 W. Washington St. A roll call vote recorded Yays from President Scott Stortz, Colette Troeller, Dianne Retzlaff, Iturrian and Schaefer and a Nay from Dean Otte; the motion passed.

The second application was for 611 E. Washington St., where applicant Brian Hansen told the board he met seven of the program’s nine criteria and described a recurring safety problem: ice forming on the public sidewalk in front of his house that, he said, could be eased by regrading the driveway. Member Sherry Schaefer moved and Member Dianne Retzlaff seconded a motion to approve a $1,000 grant for the driveway reconstruction; the motion passed (minutes record “motion passed” without a roll-call tally).

The article reflects only what was recorded in the authority minutes: the board’s motions and outcomes and the reasons members cited (program intent and a sidewalk safety concern).