We had set up. >> Greetings. Welcome to the June 2026 meeting of the Cook County Housing Redevelopment Authority. Uh first of all, I note the presence of a quorum. Uh Commissioners Olsen, O'Brien, Lamore,
and Gabler, and uh our county representatives, uh Commissioners Sullivan, and Gamble. Welcome to all. Uh we'll move ahead uh to look at first approving the agenda.
Is there a motion regarding the approving the agenda? >> Yeah. And with that too, just to to point out the agenda will uh there's an amendment to that one with uh number B or letter B, the resolution 26-18. The folks that requested that towards
30% folks from the heights are requesting an additional month's time to reddraft some of the language that they had previously drafted. Well, with that uh >> with that amendment, I move for approval of the agenda. >> It's been moved. Is there a second?
>> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> None. The question call a question. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Opposed. Uh approval of the May 20th, 2026
meeting minutes is up next. I did read them through and I have no corrections. So, I'll move approval of the minutes. >> I second. These are great, by the way. >> Yeah, it's an improvement, isn't it? >> Once again, it's a big step up in our
minute taking and we appreciate it. >> Uh, all those in favor of the minutes approving say I. I. >> I. >> Opposed. Uh, opportunity for public comment. We have a couple of people in the public
in the audience there. Do you want to introduce them? >> Yeah, I'll introduce them. I don't know if they want to make any public comments today, otherwise I'm concerned what public comments they'd make, but uh my my daughter and my son, my daughter Isabelle and my son Leo are both here today about them with to see what does
for a living. >> Glad to have you. uh new business uh a presentation regarding our 2025 H audit by Andy Herring of Red Path and Company. Andy,
uh do you want to take it away please? >> All right, sounds good. Good afternoon everybody. Hopefully I'm coming through loud and clear here. I will go ahead and share my screen. >> Perfect. We can hear you and I can see it.
>> All right, great. So, this is the the cover page of your audit for the year ended December 31st, 2025, which uh we Red Path & Company completed uh let's see, I don't even remember the report date, but uh a month or so ago, I
think u maybe even longer at this point. Um but here to just to summarize the results of the audit, overall good news. Um so, I will walk you through and highlight a few things um from the audit. The first report that we issue is our
independent auditors report. Um the first paragraph really says what we audit the financial statements of Cook County HR. The second paragraph is our opinion and that is our opinion. The financial statements are fairly stated
in all material respects. That's audit lingo meaning we audit on a concept of materiality um looking for any material misstatements or misstatements that would affect the reader of the financial
statements. So we are not auditing every single transaction. We don't audit to make sure everything is um correct to the nearest penny but on a on a concept of materiality. Uh so the results the financial statements and footnotes are
materially correct. That's a unmodified opinion also known as a clean opinion and the highest level of opinion you can receive. And behind the our independent auditors report the basic financial statements.
There's there's both a full acrruel and a modified acrruel versions of the financial statements which uh governmental entities um report the the full acrruel are statements one and two here they report
or include any long-term assets. Um there's really not a a lot of a much of a difference between the full acrruel and modified acrruel. uh the modified acrruel you're you're
most more used to seeing on a monthly basis when you review the statements. But here's the balance sheet as of December 31st 2025. Um not a whole lot to call out there. Um
except when I'll scroll down here towards the bottom the fund balance. So, a total fund balance of $889,000 at the end of 2025, but then there are def definite restrictions on how some of that money
can be spent. A a good chunk of it as of the end of 2025 was unspent uh dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act. Um there's uh housing affordable housing aid dollars there that are restricted for certain purposes. Um and
then the the 1% um CRV item that's received. So um there you know it's an important concept to understand that it's not just all available funds. There's some
specific restrictions on those dollars. Over on the income statement overall, um the fund balance did increase $538,000 during the year. I know um like I kind of like what I was just saying, a lot of
that is um committed for future projects and I have certain ideas for that and that not just ideas but um events are happening here in 2026 for those funds.
Next, there's the the footnotes. Nothing too substantial in the footnotes. Um there is, if you really want to get into the numbers. There is a nice statement here. It's on
um page 23 of the printed copy, 27 of this PDF copy, but this this displays the the actual 2025 results compared to your budget as well as a 2024 column there. So, this is the best snapshot of
the 2025 activity if you're looking for it. Uh probably the the biggest thing here that stands out to me is just that variance with budget column. Um and that actual revenue was way over budgeted
revenue, but so were the expenditures. But that's just because those projects are difficult to budget especially not knowing always when they will occur and as a result uh on the revenue side at
least they are not budgeted. Um following that is our um don't you don't need to worry about reading this whole report here but this is our report on internal control or that's the financial policies and procedures of the HA uh common internal
controls are approval of dispersements approval of financial statements approval of the receding and coding things like that so we're looking at those internal controls as we um perform
the audit and have two um findings to report uh related to internal controls which I'll get to in just a second here. The Oh, there they are right there. Okay. The the first um is really one
that you're going to have uh it's going to be a repeat finding every year. uh likely uh that's a lack of ideal segregation of duties with with just one full-time employee. There's it's just really hard for organizations of your
side to properly have somebody um processing the data and reviewing the data. Um so there's there's a finding just calling out that that condition exists. Um really the commissioner's
oversight of the financial statements and those monthly reports is probably the best um control to help um prevent anything from going um wrong relating to um a lack of ideal segregation of
duties. The second item there, it's titled inconsistent coding of revenues and expenditures. So that's something we picked up and corrected during the audit, but we noted a few things where
it just didn't make sense where certain revenues and expenses were coded. looking over at a different screen here. Um, there was a some salaries expense coded to a loan dispersement account. Uh, property tax payments were coded to
a donations account. So, some things that just didn't make sense and um, not a huge deal. you know, we got them corrected as part of the audit, but I would think for your ongoing review throughout the year, um it's going to
help you as commissioners uh be able to evaluate the financial statements um better when obviously when those amounts are coded to the correct accounts. And we've I should have mentioned um
upfront uh we've as part of wrapping up the audit u myself and Megan Hansen who's the manager on the audit we met with Jeff to go over all of these items. So he's had an opportunity to hear these and um put into place corrections. So um
hopefully this doesn't happen again. The next report is a report on Minnesota legal compliance. So, as part of the audit, we complete a guide that the state auditor issues for testing for compliance with state statutes in a in a
variety of areas, including uh dispersements and um cash and investments. um if there were any bidding or contracts or certain statutes that need to be
followed, how those contracts are let um things of that nature. Um the the result we did not note any compliance findings. So good news there. So that is the so those documents are all bound together in the 2025 financial
statements. We issue one other letter. It's a a titled communication with those charged with governance. Um essentially a letter from the auditor to the to the commissioners of required topics that we
um are required to communicate. all barely routine items in here. Um, until we get to the I guess page three,
I've got two things that I noted. And here's I I already spoke on this, but just a reminder um of those various fund balance classifications and especially the American Rescue Plan Act dollars at the
end of 2025. Anyways, there was $51,000 of ARPA dollars that were unspent and those have to be spent by the end of 2026 or you're obligated to return those to the Treasury. Um, so I I I think
there are plans um in place to spend that money, but you just want to make sure that those dollars are spent by the end of 2026. And then the the second item uh there was when we test for when we
test the expenditures um we we select a sample uh one of them that we selected was a $23 um charge to Hungry Hippie Tacos. Um and
the the receipt was not provided. not a not a huge deal, but um just wanted to kind of take the opportunity to remind the commissioners that um and this is straight out of a a state
auditor, they call them avoiding pitfalls. Uh and to summarize this, anytime there's sort of meal reimbursements, those are acceptable for um certain circumstances such as when it uh it was
necessary to have a meal during a meeting time, for example. Um but the the the policy of the state auditor is you should have a policy an internal policy really stating when it's
appropriate um for there to be meal reimbursements. So that's a a reminder to establish a policy. Um, and that just helps um what's good practice and it would help you defend yourself if anyone
um say from the general public, you know, oh, why are you spending money on this or that? Well, we had this meeting during dinner time and that was the only time we could meet. So, according to our policy, it was appropriate um to have a
meal reimbursement during that time. So those are the two um kind of management points that I had, not necessarily findings, but just items to call out during the audit. And that is
it from what I had today, but overall good news. Um just um you know, there's quite a bit of work that goes into preparing for the audit and then um conducting the audit itself. And I'm trying to remember, we were I think
about 6 months ahead of last year. So overall, things went a lot smoother this year, 2025, than uh last year. So I definitely thank Jeff for his hard work on that and everyone else that supported him. So with that, I'd be happy to
answer any questions. Well, first let me appreciate express our appreciation for the uh completion of the audit in a very timely fashion. Uh and uh we do remember the issues with
the previous year's audit and changing directors and and a bunch of other issues. But uh glad to hear we're back on track. A question for Jeff is does Carl Hansen now is he aware of the
coding issues and u he's our keeps our books in a sense or at least starts them and >> yeah so the the coding issue comes down to when QuickBooks um takes our transactions they it kind of AI I think in the background kind of
categorizes them and it does the best it can but sometimes it misses and um Clearly, we've all missed the the some of the errors. I mean, I fix as many of them as I catch, which is majority of them, but clearly were some of them that
were not missed or that were not caught. So, um, yep, we're all aware of that going forward to double and triple check to make sure going forward. Yes, >> that's great. Um, also I guess I would assure the other
commissioners that we're working hard on making sure that the ARPA money is spent by the end of the year. We have no intention of re rebating any of it to the federal government if we can help it and I know we can help it. Uh also in
meal reimbursement that is an issue that uh is on our agenda shortly here to approve a a motion or hopefully approve a motion that will take care of that. But we appreciate the heads up and to Andy if you see or hear any other uh
issues which or think of policies we might consider, please push them on. Uh whether it's during an audit or not. uh if comes things come up to your attention that the state is now requiring or someone else uh we'd
appreciate hearing that. So thanks. Any other thoughts from commissioners or anyone else? Okay. Thanks very much. >> All right. You're welcome. Well, yeah, I'll definitely pass along any um tips
or considerations for policies as as I hear them or think of them. So, uh thank you and have a good afternoon. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Andy. >> Andy. >> Yeah. Bye. >> Well, as we noted, uh B resolution 2618
is going to be pushed out till next month pending some uh further work on the issue with Boreal Waters Foundation. Okay, >> but that brings us to 2619 resolution adopting housing and redevelopment meal
related policies. And we just heard the importance of that. And uh Jeff, do you want to explain the policy for us? >> Yeah. So once um once the uh auditors came back with that recommendation, I
had a conversation with the uh Minnesota office of the state auditor and they recommended that we work through our legal folks at Fryburgger to create the meal plan that you have before us today in um
exhibit A. What I would also suggest is that um once Christopher Vera over at Fryburger created that, he also had that vetted through the office of the state auditor as well. So what you see before us has been vetted and revetted and this
is a good meal policy that I think we should adopt. Um you know from the standpoint of the audit, there was a a point of clarification about the lack of a receipt for meal. So, we had strategic planning last Jan uh uh June and July
and the July meal for strategic planning before this meeting occurred last last July. Um happened to be me going to the the the Hungry Hippie Taco a half hour before they opened. They were kind enough to get the meal ready for us
beforehand and I had to get over here to have the everything planned and ready to go. And unfortunately, I just didn't grab the receipts. And so, I feel bad, but that's an honest mistake in the whole scheme of the day. I think we we planned a great strategic planning out of it all, but unfortunately, I just
didn't grab the receipt. So, I'm going >> and the meal was good as always, right there. Right. But, um, going forward, I'll double and triple check that I've got the receipt before we leave the facilities. >> Yeah. Is there a motion uh to approve the meal related policy?
>> I'll move to approve 26-9. >> I second. >> Been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion on the uh motion? Hearing none. Call a question. All those in favor of the policy say I. I. >> I. Opposed.
Motion carries. Uh next item is resolution approving the housing redevelopment authority of Cook County's levy request to Cook County itself. Uh we have exhibits a budget document and uh the Cook County invest
community investment funding and discretionary funding application. Uh Jeff, do you want to walk us through those please? >> Certainly. So, you'll remember last month we had this discussion in which we adopted the proposed 2027 HR levy
request. Uh, we were a little ahead of the game and um Brady Powers over at the audit auditor's office came back to us and said, "Okay, that's great. You guys have this, but also we have this new application that the county commissioners also want you to fill out
for community investment funding and discretionary funding." And so that is also included in this discussion today is exhibit A uh B I believe. And so I went through the process of not only looking at the budget but also drafting
all the answers to all the questions they required from us. Um we don't one of the request requirements for uh for 990 tax form. We don't have that because we're a government entity. But we do have an audit which I will pass
along that we just adopted today um as well. But um you'll see the answers to all the questions here. Feel free to look them over if you haven't already. And if you have any questions about verbiage or what you'd like to see that isn't incorporated, I'm happy to take that feedback either now or before I
submit it. Um but just to kind of maybe sort of reiterate some points that were made from the last discussion and then again to this discussion if you look at the budget itself exhibit A um we have a 4% increase for the executive director's
position. Um and then um in support services we have an increase for support services as well that reflects the um the contracted administrative and technical assistance um that of course we use kind of we're
in a situation of growing pains and so for us we contract out some of the work like for instance Maggie is kindly doing all of our our minutes and of course making them look much better than ever before. That's an example of a professional contract that we have now that we didn't in previous years. Um
over in the benefits side, we had an increase of 3% and that reflects the rising costs of benefits for the executive director position. Um, and then if you look at the operating costs, well, there are things like a 3% increase for things like liability
insurance, bookkeeping, the auditing services, technical services are also increased by 3% just because we know that things are going to cost more than they ever have before. We need all those things to operate. Um that's just really important whether it be the the
subscription that we have to maintain our security online or um different things like that for um technical um work and um you know that sort of thing rebooting things that have gone wrong or something like that recovering
data as an example. Um so the requests that we have are modest and I think the primary primarily reflects the inflation that we see across the board everywhere in the world. um and rising service costs. Um in the past years, we have looked at ways that we could make sure
that we're we're mean and lean, and I think that we're continuing to do that with this budget, but also recognizing the fact that things are just costing a little bit more to continue to do the business. Any questions for Jeff on that? Uh my own reaction is I'm hoping we weren't
too uh lean and mean on our expectation of the rising costs and uh so we'll we'll find out. But otherwise, I think it's really was a good job preparing the report and and uh in response to the county's request and uh we appreciate
the county's due diligence and having a budget review committee to begin with and we're happy to submit our material to you, Commissioner Gamble. I saw >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. Just regarding that, Jeff, do you know uh did
Brady indicate that you would be presenting that before the board of commissioners? Um I anticipate doing so. I don't know that he articulated that to me, but I anticipate doing so going forward. Uh he did indicate that just like the EDA, for instance, the H is
considered a core function. Yeah. >> And so maybe it's a little bit different than some of the other non nonprofits that the county commissioners fund. Um but yeah, I would imagine I would be presenting as well >> that we will have department heads and that's why I just curious if he if he
mentioned that in conjunction and uh at that point and and we commissioner Sullivan and other commissioners in our county administrator this morning attended Association of Minnesota counties District 1 meeting and uh part of that discussion was uh when county
gives counties within District 1 gave their update about how they go over their budget process and that departments and entities come before the board and in my first term that's how it happened. It just gives us an opportunity to understand the narrative
that informs your budget. So absolutely I just curious whether you were going to show up or not otherwise we would grill you individually. Tell me the time and the date I'd be happy to be there
kids because I want accountability. Absolutely. >> Any other comments, questions? Uh, is there a motion to approve the housing and redevelopment authorities 2027 levy request to Cook County in the
documentation? >> I second. I'm sorry. I make a motion to approve the request. >> It's been moved. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Been moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the resolution? Hearing none, we'll call the question. All those
in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Other business. The director's report. Uh Jeff, you want to >> Yeah. A couple of um couple of items to discuss today in my director's report. The first thing being you know you'll
remember a year ago in June we had our first strategic planning session followed by July's and then of course we had our five new priorities in addition to the three priorities that we currently have which is to build new housing to rehab existing housing and to
redevelop were important and necessary and one of those new five items was local housing trust fund and I think we've given a lot of time and effort to putting together a a a set of guidelines that I think were they were vetted
through the Minnesota Housing Partnership. I feel strongly that those are going to be um the five guidelines that we use for for funding out of the HA going forward for things like um you know some of the uh envelope and
energy program improvements in the community and that sort of thing going forward. The problem is we can't actually implement any of that stuff without actually having localizing trust fund established. And you know, I we've had um our county attorneys had u
possession of the uh documents necessary to create through resolution the local housing trust fund. Um, and we understand full full understanding that, you know, housing maybe is not top priority for their office considering all of the other major important things
that they're doing with court cases and that sort of thing. And so, um, I think I'd like to go a new route. I'm having our, uh, folks at Fryburgger put together the actual resolution for the
um, and actually doing it now for the uh, creation of local housing trust fund. And then we'll give uh once it's received, I would hope by mid July, then we will give our county attorney 30 days to look it over. And my hope is that by
August 15th or at the next August meeting, I can't remember exactly the date, but you know, third week in August when we have our HA board meeting, we'll be passing our resolution to create an established local housing trust fund. And then we'll be spending the next four months getting it off the ground and moving and doing the things that we
anticipated doing with that local housing trust fund. So that's just kind of wanted to bring that to your attention to say I think I've got a new tech going forward on this and I'm not there's no hard feelings or anything like that. We understand that the attorney office attorney's office is very busy with
what's going on in the world and all around us. Um and u we just we need to keep the ball moving forward on this localizing trust fund. Well, I I'd support that uh in that uh I think Fryburgger is certainly qualified to do this work and the county attorney is
likely not very familiar with how local housing trust funds. Uh and uh we'd certainly like to get the county attorney's opinion, but uh I think moving forward here at this stage, we waited long enough just being frank about it. Uh we need to get something
going. So, I appreciate the thought, Commissioner. >> Mr. Chair, appreciate it. Just to that point, uh, Jeff, that um, I flew in the door because I had received a call from John Bennett. He's a gentleman with the University of Minnesota tapping into
wealth and establishing foundation funding and uh, just what a huge resource that is. And so we had asked in the leadership meeting, community leadership meeting that he would come and do a presentation to interested parties. And I know Lucas certainly
would like to be part of that. >> Okay. And so John had said that uh if there's individuals he'd be coming up in uh in a week or two and whoever would like to meet uh the intention the reason that I brought him to mind is that I think it's a resource to help direct us
in an area to create funding that isn't necessarily well it definitely isn't levy based and certainly we've had many discussions on on funding mechanisms that are resourceful like that. So, uh, I can certainly let you know when he's in town so we can have a initial
discussion and then hopefully there would be a presentation to the full leadership group. Super. I'm looking forward to that. Yeah. Any resources that are available like that I'm happy to attend and be participant in. And uh, just to remind you too, the reason why we're doing this in the first place the
way we're doing it is because in 2025, what year is this? Yep. 2026. Time flies. In 2025, the legislature passed last May um u a resolution or statute change allowing for um HASS and
cities and communities to create local housing trust funds. And so this gives us authority through the legislature in order for us to do it ourselves, which honestly the way I'm I'm looking at this, we will still be I think the first one out of the shoot as an H doing it ourselves. I want to make sure our eyes
are dotted, our tees are crossed, and we're doing everything right because I think at the end of the day, it's really important because other people will follow. And I think it's it's incumbent upon us to be good stewards and good leaders in this process. And so it it's taking a little bit of time, maybe a little bit of extra time, but I think it's worth it in the long term for what
the product will be. Uh the next thing on the list, I just wanted to mention a little bit about the the 1800 West Highway 61 project. Um, you know, we've had several conversations with the previous um, uh, candidate developer for the project. We
have since uh, worked with the EDA and recommended that we cut ties with the developer and work on looking at a new developer. Um, and so that work continues. Um, as we look forward here, our goals are that we number one have
that workforce housing program grant, um, that $1.3 million that the EDA received for housing. Uh, there is a, uh, a timeline that's ticking on that. And January 1st, 2028 is the last day that anything could be constructed on
that site for reimbursement of that 1.3 million. And I think it's really important considering what we need for housing in the state of Minnesota, but specifically in our arrowhead region that we take full advantage of that money and we get that money um to pay
for that project. And so, um, we have kind of a deadline and we there were some real concerns about us not being able to meet that deadline and all indications were at the legislature last year or last session here, which ended last month. Um, that on both sides of
the aisle, both parties are very interested in seeing the money that Minnesota housing gets go out the door as soon as they get it. So that way they're not holding on to money because the the need for housing in this state is great. is uh about a 65 or 70 billion
with a B project problem across our state which is about what exactly is the state budget for two years um at the state level. So um there won't be another chance for us to get this kind of money. We had a lot of extra money that was available to us
because of the feds subsidizing health during the pandemic. A lot of that money was available in the 23 24 sessions and we're seeing that money uh come to Cook County in the form of this grant for instance and we're able to see it happen. We just want to make sure we get
that money to its full potential. >> How what's that? >> How how do we do that? >> Well, right now we're looking at um working with a new developer. >> And are there you are talking to people? >> Yep. I'm talking with another developer
right now. Um, we'll make sure that the city is involved because they own the land and we're not going to be able to get that building produced without their approval of the design. That's their real interest is they want to make sure that whatever is put on that site is a unique design. But, you know, that's the
Gateway District of Grammar. So, they have some interest in that. Uh, last month we passed a resolution working with Northshore Surveying to get the property surveyed. That work is being conducted actually right about now, this mid June. Um, and so we're continuing to
move the ball forward. Um, we'll have something if the developer decides that they do want to go forward with the project. I would imagine we'll be seeing some sort of a timeline. We'll be imagining looking at some preliminary design work. We'll need to know who their construction folks are going to
be. And just like with any other developer, we want to know what their capital stack is, who their investors are. We'll have to vet them through the process like we created last October or September of last year. And so there's a lot of work yet to be done. It's it's all work that has to be done in earnest in order to get that project off the
ground. So hope that answers your how question. Yeah. Okay. Um and then I'm going to add one extra one. Sorry. Yesterday I attended the EDA meeting and they had a great conversation about tech harbor which I did not include but I attended
the meeting. That was a great conversation and both of the visions for the future if if everything works out and the owners of the properties are able to support selling that land and seeing something happen there on the
site. both of the visions A and B had housing on site for the future of the Tacite Harbor community and I think that that's really encouraging and we want to make sure that we are standing ready as partners to see how we can help make
that part of that vision a reality. Um you know time will tell about how that will work. It's interesting. Uh yesterday I sat next to um Carla from DED. She's uh in in in charge of the program dealing with communities dealing
with the energy transition away from coal and you know that sort of thing in these different communities and the 2324 year when I was a legislator I unknowingly supported this program not knowing that it would actually come to and then the million dollars that Cook
County received for this transition work was done at the legislature through that 2324 session. And so it was really kind of cool to talk to Carla a little bit about that to kind of go, "Oh my gosh, that that that happened and now I can actually see these dollars happen for our community in the vision process."
And so I was really we weren't part of that process, but we are obviously going to be part of I hope the the benefit or the um the the product that is the the visions for the future in that area. And then um the last thing I just wanted to
point out was I received recognition from the coalition of greater Minnesota cities. It's in your packet um that they are recognizing um the the Cook County HR and myself as um a friend of the
CGMC, the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities. U they asked me to um participate in some testimony. Senator Hoschild had a bill in the House for some housing funding and particularly tied to infrastructure which our
community needs for housing. Can't build housing without somewhere to flush the toilets and somewhere to get the water, right? That's really important. And so, um, I testified twice in the Senate to make sure that they understood what those dollars could mean for our community in dealing with the housing
issues that we have. So, uh, they recognized me with an award which will be given out, um, next month at in Dumal, which is just a stone throw from where I live currently. So, um, that'll be a short drive to that meeting and I'll be attending that one as well next month. And then that is all I had for
the director's report for this month. >> Uh, financials, Mr. O'Bre. >> Yeah. No. uh no material issues to uh to to raise. You know, the financials are included in the packet or the transactions that the the statement of activity uh for the month is included.
We need to find a way to print that in a more digestible form. Maybe a landscape instead of you know two separate pages but but no no material issues to raise. >> Yeah.
Uh other topics I see a person a new arrival in the audience who might have something to tell us about the heights. >> Oh yes. >> Um yeah sure >> come up to the mic.
>> Yeah. Come up to the mic anything officially but but thank you for asking. Always always nice to talk about the heights. I'm Gary Latz, one of the project um people for From the Heights. Um it's
been very successful to say the least. We have uh 36 units and either occupied under a signed approved lease or approved application. We have 34 net.
>> And so there are only two units left. One's a market rate onebedroom and the other is a uh a an 80% AMI studio and that's it. Now our performer to to put that into perspective our our
underwriting said after two months which for us would be the end of June at the two after two months we should be at 55% occupancy we're at 95%. So we're do we're doing well we're off to a good start. Um, and it is amazing
the the the life stories you're talking about need for housing, but that need is a whole bunch of people with a whole bunch of stories and what what these projects are allowing to happen. People come here and recognize their dream, you know, um, have a place to land, get, you
know, take a job and and and move up and they're just delighted to be to be here in in Cook County. and the housing is the the thing that made it happen. The the jobs were there. They they just needed a place to be and it's really
really exciting. Um we have a phase two in interjecting that because of the comments that Jeff made a few minutes ago. Um you know we we dearly wish to develop phase two which could be if we did a similar building similar style
could be as many as 24 units. Um, and I I just want to keep that in front of the HR that that we have a strong interest in doing that. And now that our focus finally is away from building and sweeping and cleaning and and things like that, um, um, you know, we we we
hope to open up some e efforts into that u that project. Um, also I should add as far as construction goes, everything in the building is done. The only things that remain are external things that couldn't be finished last year by
November, December when it got too cold and it snowed. So, we still have piles of rubble that are all going to be moved. Uh we have a wonderful, wonderful landscape plan which we'll be lucky if we can get anything planted this year the way things are going.
And and we have a very extensive amenity area that that's all planned out and and ready to go. and we've acquired many of the pieces that go in there. So, it's going to be just a wonderful place for for people, families and individuals to
to uh take take time and and really really enjoy what the community offers. So >> Richard, >> can you uh tell us about uh it's certainly without names or or any
identities, but what if what's your sense about local people moving in? Where are they coming from? Are they leaving their homes? Are they selling their homes to come live there? That's sure. >> We'd like to know because uh
>> that's something Commissioner Gamble has expressed an interest in both for the Gunflint View and for the Heights now. And as long as you're on the hot seat, >> you get the first shot. >> Sure. Well, I I will start by saying
most of the the the units are being occupied by people that are coming to the county. >> Okay. uh which is which is our our main objective to begin with. But having said that, there are 1 2 3 four there four
four um I'll call them seniors. I guess I'm a senior too, so I'm one of them. But um there there at least four units that are occupied by people who are already here and they're downsizing >> and um you know and simplifying their
life and they're also they're loving it. They're I I I mean they're our our units are big and they feel big and it really makes a difference for for those folks to say I'm coming from my you know 2500 3,000 ft home and I'm moving into an 840
foot apart apartment. Does it work? Well, yeah, it kind of does work. And and so four people have made that that kind of decision already. Um um beyond that now there are a couple other locals that have moved um and they've moved up
they've moved up from from the basement to to a real apartment you know that that's brand new and they they can really appreciate it that way having more space and stuff and and for those folks the the AMI uh pricing is is
the thing that made it work um because they the the the incomes just weren't there to do a market rate unit. So, we certainly have to think in in in terms of that that I mean, we the locals can can really benefit from these programs.
>> Um, so I I think we're hitting our primary target which is the reos. Uh, the secondary target was seniors moving down and we didn't expect that to be a big number and at this point four out of 34 is not really a big number. And then
um uh and the rest uh not exactly to your question, Richard, but it's everything. It's couples, it's singles, it's um families with kids. We have 10 kids. >> 10 kids. I'm looking forward to today to
watch the school bus pull into to the Heights, pick up all those kids and take them away, you know? I mean, really think about that. and and these kids are kids that are going to grow up and go through our school system and they weren't here a year ago. Um it's just
amazing. And some of the folks are talking about, you know, the dreams they're they're talking about. Well, we're going to work here for a couple years and save up money and buy a house, you know, and you know, things like that. I mean, they're those are the dreams that the folks have
>> and uh they are being realized. Commissioner Gable. >> Thank you. Uh, in 15 years of managing subsidized housing, 95% of the calls I would get are individuals that are offered basically job
opportunities up here, but can't find housing. And you can tell in their voice how desperate they are because they've got a job. They just got to find housing. Yeah. I did have a young gentleman come yesterday and gave him a tour, but uh our property is 55 and
older. And so um I sent him your direction. I don't know. But I said, "You want to go up there and and check it out?" But given the fact that you had two, he was ready to sign, but then he realized because he's a young gentleman, he couldn't do it. but he has a job offer in Grand Portage and he's got a
girlfriend in Thunder Bay so he just needed to get a place. I don't know if the job offer the girlfriend was more attractive to the need but anyway >> I know who you're talking about. Yes. Yes. We're working on it. >> Yeah.
>> That's that's it, Gary. I mean those are that's the kind of people and things you know we're making making things happen for them. >> Yeah. Yeah. We won't specifically name names, but the director of the EDA admitted last month that he is a tenant
at uh the Heights and and we're happy that he's there >> and uh happy to have some housing for him. We have our own executive director who's still in the search process, but
>> he's very picky. >> We have one unit for you, Jeff. So, um, while Gary is, um, with us, one of the things I wanted to share is, um, as Commissioner Gamble mentioned, the county commissioners and our county
administrator were were at our district one meeting for AMC today. And one of the things last evening um when we gathered we talked significantly about housing and the word is out about your project about the Cook County Real
Estate Fund and people were asking us if a group of us could put together a presentation to share at AMC in December >> to explain how a county can make a difference by providing housing. So, I wanted to let you know that they have
requested that we put a small group together to do a a presentation and um yeah, a lot of discussion and logistics before then, but I just wanted to let you know people are watching the Heights, they're watching the Gunflint View, they're watching Cook County, and
they're amazed how we have worked on our housing issue. Um so, I think we will be getting a kind of a spotlight um at this opportunity in December. It's down in Bloomington. So, >> call call us for any help that you you
>> Absolutely. I know you have some great slides. >> Yeah. And soon we're going to get like real slides as soon as the place looks cleaned up and and stuff too. You We're just holding off. I mean, it's not the most attractive looking at all those
rubble piles and stuff. So, that'll go away and then we can take real pictures. >> So, don't relax too much. >> No. >> No. Oh, we'll probably have you write up some of that material that you
just gave us and ask Gunflint View to do the same because I know there's a lot of interest and and to start off with Gunflint View so they're not totally forgotten, the county administrator is attended at Gunflint View while their home is being built and uh so we've got
uh county officials in in both projects and that's great because that hasn't always and that housing hasn't been available for some of our potential hires and at least in two cases it has been >> very true.
>> Well, any other questions? >> Congratulations. >> Thank you for Thank you for inviting me to speak. Thank you. >> And I think maybe it's worth pointing out too. I forgot to do this in the director's report, but the heights just received an energy efficiency rebate from the SIMA as well. I just wanted to
acknowledge that. that was out last month in the Northshore uh journal um on May 29th. And so it's nice that new construction also has new energy efficiencies and I think that that's one of the goals that we share at the H going forward is that we want to support
more of that and see more of that happen as well. So thank you. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Uh any committee reports? >> I have a question. Um so the 1 was it 1.6 6 million for the um uh 1.3 million
for 1800. >> Yep. >> Can that be used on any other projects for a different piece of land, for example? >> Um no. >> Is it tied to that land? Okay. >> Yep. I've I've had some very good conversations with the Department of
Housing and Minnesota Housing Finance Agency about that. If we change the location or if we change the amount of units or something like that that's primarily different from what we originally had in our application, uh the fair thing would be for us to get back in line because there's a lot of
other people that are waiting in line as well. >> What about phase two? >> Yeah, that would be a great application for us to have in the future for some more money. Definitely. >> But we can't use that. I've asked unfortunately that
we've had some conversations about that as well, but unfortunately just >> but Commissioner Olsen for that uh you know idea uh we do have the ARPA money >> sitting there that it's not that much
but it's enough uh that might help stimulate some new development and some of it's committed at least verbally but there's still some available. Remember that the Bjorkberg project had some money available as well that could be used on other projects. It was my
understanding. >> Yep. We've earmarked 100,000 for the Norris Goen project. >> Okay. >> To get to the 450,000 that they need. And so we've got 100,000. >> Uh earlier this year we were provided $250,000 for the Nordic Star expansion
with one roof community housing. So that's 350,000 committed. So, we have a little less than $150,000 to play with um that might be used for things like wherever we decide. And I do want to have a meeting for us to talk about strategic planning for us to
>> let's not refer to it as play with it. >> Yeah, we're not playing here for us to use and u to benefit uh the housing uh that we need in our community. So whether it be infrastructure or whether it be uh construction costs or or
preliminary pre-development costs or something like that, we do have different pots of money where we could earmark that money, but it has to be spent by this year >> or given back to the federal government. >> Yeah. Any other commissioner items? Or I would
just point out that on I think it's July 9th, the HA and EDA are sponsoring the community leaders uh meeting and we're going to be at Gunflint View in the in their community room and uh looking forward to that. It should be a
interesting time but uh nice to be able to uh meet in such a place and a little further focus on housing. So that's all good. It's >> good that you got your meal policy in place. Maybe the EDA doesn't then'll provide
the >> That's right. We'll let them do that. >> We'll see. Yeah. Thanks. Any other issues to bring before the board? Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Oh, excuse. >> Sorry, I have one thing. Um, so I had an
opportunity this afternoon to attend the Northspan um working group up at the Cook County Higher Ed. I know um Jeff had hoped to be able to attend that as well, but had uh something else come up. And um
primarily what they did is over the last year um Northspan has had four different meetings or three of the four as of today. Um the first one it was almost a year ago and collected background research on rural um
communities and some of the issues and needs that they had. Housing was number one. Surprise surprise. And then they had engagement sessions throughout the seven counties in um the northern part of the state. Today they are developing
some action plans and they'll do a final presentation most likely at the end of the summer or early September. But um they are really looking at housing and are collecting information not only from Cook County but Cooching was there
today, Itasa County, Aken County, St. Louis and um >> Carlton >> Pine County and Carlton and Lake. So they were all present there to share information about their struggles with
housing also what are their successes and um so when we get that final report I'll make sure that we present it to this group >> be great. The nice thing about the all the groups that you mentioned is that they also participate with us in different organizational meetings
whether it be with RAMs >> range area or um with the home continuum as well for some federal money that the Arrowhead gets every year for housing. And so those folks are great partners in a lot of different ways. But yeah, we all kind of share the same issues.
Another issue that we share in common is that there are a lot of secondary homes in our counties as well. And as we talk about these things, one of the things that we talk about are ways that we can work regionally to support maybe some additional policy
changes, whether it be in the taxation realm or other ways in order for us to get more of a fair balance of of resources for housing in our communities. And so they're great folks to work with and we share a lot, that's
for sure, in common. Uh again, is there a motion forment? >> Move to been moved. >> Second. >> Second. Any discussion? All those in favor of returnment say I. >> I. >> All right. Meeting
>> on your screen. >> Thanks everyone. >> Is the uh techite group uh going to be presenting in grammar sometime soon as well. >> John Bennett with the university. I know that they presented