Here’s a look at the top headlines from around west central Minnesota for Sept. 12, 2022.
WILLMAR — Despite numerous complaints from local residents, a proposed new apartment complex has surmounted its next hurdle in becoming a reality.
The Willmar Planning Commission at its Wednesday meeting approved a conditional use permit, as well as the preliminary and final plat for the development.
The proposed Unique Opportunities apartment complex, which is proposed to be 216 units across three 72-unit buildings, will be located between the Trentwood development and the mobile home park on Lakeland Drive Northeast.
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The Planning Commission at a previous meeting approved the rezoning of the parcel to high-density residential from agricultural. A public hearing regarding the rezoning of the land will take place during the Sept. 19 Willmar City Council meeting.
A public hearing will also take place at that meeting regarding creating a tax increment financing district to help finance the development.
Kandiyohi County 2023 tax levy set to increase, but individuals won't see full impact
WILLMAR — To create a balanced budget in 2023, Kandiyohi County is planning on increasing the property tax levy by $2,476,130 — or 2.9% — over this year's levy, to $36,363,370.
However, because of the increased economic growth and rising property values in the county, the tax capacity rate dropped seven percentage points — from 56.75% to 49.75%. This means individual property taxpayers probably won't see their county share of taxes go up 2.9%. Instead, it could be a smaller increase.
Commissioners certified the tax levy for next year at Tuesday's meeting on a preliminary basis. The county will formally adopt the tax levy in December. Between now and then, the tax levy can be decreased, but it can not increase.
Willmar council once again continues hearing on street assessments, sets special meeting to act on objections
WILLMAR — Assessments for the 2022 Willmar street improvement program are now set to be discussed during a third meeting — a special meeting in October.
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While reopening the public comment portion of the hearing was not on the Willmar City Council’s agenda Tuesday night, the council chose to do so due to the large number of residents in attendance.
The council ended up hearing dozens more objections to the amount residents are being assessed, with resident Tom Anderson speaking for 22 residents on the Sixth Street Southwest improvement project.
In order to respond to all the objections raised, the hearing was again continued — only this time it was made clear that the public comment portion of the hearing is over and will not be reopened.
The hearing will be continued at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, and will take place in the boardroom of the Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services building.
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