NORTH WEBSTER - This time next year, senior citizens in North Webster will likely have affordable housing.

No remonstrators were present at a public hearing Wednesday at the start of the North Webster Town Council meeting; about a dozen people supportive of the project were in attendance.

"Mark my word," said Bob Murphy of Murphy & Associates, Larwill. "One year from now, we will have the apartments built and done ... It is going to happen."

Murphy is working with the town on securing grant funding for the senior citizen housing complex northwest of the United Methodist Church in Epworth Forest. Wednesday's hearing was necessary to approve submitting the grant application.

The 20 units planned will be duplexes with garages between them, an administration building and a clubhouse. The units - eight one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom - will come equipped with appliances. They will rent for $349 per month and $421 per month respectively. The monthly cost includes utilities.

The grant being sought is through the Indiana Department of Commerce and is for a maximum of $400,000. The town also has applied for a $500,000 grant through the Housing Finance Authority. The total cost of the project is $1,534,000.

Murphy said the town will not have any money invested in the project since its matching portion comes in the form of land, and that was donated to the town by Bart Culver.

This is the town's second attempt to gain funding from the Community Focus Fund.

If the town is awarded grant money, Murphy speculates that the bid process could take place in January or February, with construction beginning in late March or early April.

In other business, the council:

jj Preliminarily denied a request from the proprietors of North Webster Motel to replace a mobile home at the business for use as an office/living quarters. A mobile home at that location has been there since 1968, but an ordinance passed since that time precludes putting a new one there. The council did agree to check with the town attorney about the matter before making a final decision.

jj Approved (contingent upon available funding) spending up to $1,000 to have the trees at the park trimmed and the dead wood removed from them. The work will be done by Bartlett Tree Service of Fort Wayne.

jj Signed a bill of sale for the town's canine, Sender, and a lease with her owner. Deputy Marshal Todd Bough, who is the dog's trainer, bought the dog from the town for $1,900 and will be leasing the animal back to the town for $1 per year.

jj Witnessed the swearing in of Chris Rager as a new reserve officer on the North Webster Police Department.

The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 in the town hall. [[In-content Ad]]