Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
CLAYPOOL - Claypool Town Council discussed a memorandum of understanding with the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation on a new potential housing addition.
The MOU was presented to council by Dawn Wilkinson, KEDCO director of projects and operations, during a council meeting Tuesday. Jessica Hauck, KEDCO talent and housing manager, also attended the meeting to address council and resident questions.
"This memorandum of understanding is going to be between the town of Claypool, Club 720 ... KEDCO, and Mr. and Mrs. Don Zolman, it's their property ... and they're being generous enough to work with us and the town to bring additional housing," said Wilkinson.
Wilkinson said the MOU outlines what each entity's expectations are. With funding for pre-development costs, Wilkinson told council they will utilize funds KEDCO is budgeted from Kosciusko County government every year and monies from the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI).
"We'll form a committee to help shape the division," said Wilkinson, noting Zolman, KEDCO and town representatives would be involved.
Wilkinson also said Club 720 can help KEDCO through a platform that potential homebuyers can use to express interest in a home in Claypool.
"We'll also work with local employers like Louis Dreyfus, Slate (Auto) that's coming in, that are needing housing for their employees and working with their employees as this goes on ... how we get ready to buy a house, how do we prepare for a mortgage," said Wilkinson. "We'll be doing both things parallel so that way when we get this addition going, it's going to get filled and not just sit there."
The proposed houses will be built on-site and not manufactured. Wilkinson noted Zolman is also willing to annex the property.
Once the MOU is signed by council, Wilkinson said work would start immediately on assembling a committee, meeting with Club 720 and planning sites.
"We want to see this pretty much be our catalyst site," said Wilkinson about the housing addition. "You guys are going to be the first ones out the gate, which we're really excited about. This will really be a good thing for the town, help elevate the town, the school and grow the community here."
Niki Miller, a resident, asked council if they will be making the infrastructure big enough within town to accommodate those new houses.
"We would want to consider the surrounding area, what that looks like, what future development looks like, and make sure that we identify those things and build the proper infrastructure," said Wilkinson. "So, we would definitely do that with that in mind."
"It could be that as that development happens, that the opportunity to tap on comes at the same time for those residents," said Hauck.
One resident expressed concerns with the funds going toward a new addition versus the removal of abandoned properties in town limits.
"We've been looking into tearing down houses, plus this housing addition, for years," said Council member Gene Warner. "Wastewater's coming in and we're getting it upgraded so we can handle more. Everything's coming into effect all at once."
Council member Don Miller said there's been interest from investors over the last couple years in coming into town and fixing up properties.
Warner said properties were slowly being taken care of, discussing Habitat for Humanity projects in town limits. Two new Habitat for Humanity homes were built in 2024, with two more in the works.
"In my opinion, it needs to work hand-in-hand," said Council President Ben Stage Jr. "If we can do a subdivision, I'm all for doing different homes in town, too, redoing them to where people want to purchase them. But also, I don't want to limit us ... there's a lot of people who want to move into a subdivision. I want to keep our prospects open for both."
"Studies have shown us there's a huge appetite for housing, here, anywhere in the county," said Wilkinson. "There are people that want a smaller-town feel, not really busy, kind of off the beaten path. I don't think it will be hard to sell at all."
Town Marshal Trevor Long said the subdivision on the town's west side typically sells houses quickly whenever they go on sale.
Hauck also noted the state is working on the creation of a rehabilitation/refurbished home program, but that there's not a whole lot of information on that yet.
Council voted to review the MOU prior to approving it and also requested Town Attorney Rama Sobhani look over the document as well.
