Board approves $250,000 transfer for redevelopment corridor, backs Next Generation Housing work

The Washington County Board voted 17–4 to authorize a general-fund transfer of up to $250,000 to support consulting services and due diligence for the Washington County Redevelopment Corridor and Next Generation Housing initiatives.

Deborah Silski presented the request, saying the funds would pay for phase-2 environmental site-assessment matching funds, soil borings, geophysical surveys and consultant services to advance concept plans and prepare sites for potential development. "Phase 1 of the redevelopment corridor project is really underway," Silski told the board, and the transfer would help start concept planning for Phase 2.

Supervisors pressed several questions. Supervisor Watson Conrad asked whether the project would pause if the transfer was denied; Silski said work could be paused and some property-specific tasks (an $8,000 ESA match for the south site, borings for the central site) would be delayed. Supervisor Troutner raised concerns about program performance in another market (Kewaskem) and suggested the county consider alternative workforce-attraction programs such as relocation stipends and grants recently launched in other counties.

Silski responded with program details, saying Next Generation Housing has no income or age limits, and that 48% of buyers in the program come from outside Washington County. She described active partnerships with builders and with Regal Ware, which has contributed a 20% match for a Phase 1 environmental assessment on one site and has a seat on the task force planning housing adjacent to its facility.

Supporters argued the corridor uses county-owned land that is not producing tax revenue and that development would return properties to the tax rolls. Supervisor Kelling said the redevelopment would "shrink the county footprint" of underutilized land and recoup county investments through sales and future tax receipts. Opponents urged caution about using general-fund money when $4.5 million remains in the Next Generation Housing fund and urged exploring federal or state funding that could reduce local spending.

Supervisor Schwab moved approval and Supervisor Kelling seconded. The motion required a two-thirds vote and passed 17–4 by electronic tally.

Next steps mentioned by staff include advancing concept plans to the county executive committee and reconvening the task force later this summer for Phase 2 planning.