AHRA request for county property approved

Douglas County commissioners approved the Alexandria Housing and Redevelopment Authority’s (AHRA) request to purchase a tax-forfeited property in Alexandria for economic development.

The request came before the board at the June 12 commissioners’ meeting and was tabled in order for the board to further investigate financial data.

The county will sell the property located at 404 12th Avenue East in Alexandria to the AHRA for $3,500.

County Auditor/Treasurer Char Rosenow explained that the AHRA will undertake an additional $11,000 to be paid to the city for removal of the house that was on the property, filing fees and existing liens.

“Our assessor said the property is worth about $35,000,” Commissioner Paul C. Anderson said. “I guess that’s a little closer.”

Anderson opposed approving the purchase at the June 12 meeting because the county would be receiving a fraction of the assessed value. Had the county kept the property it would be responsible for maintenance costs on the lot.

The AHRA intends to help develop the low to moderate housing market in the area with this acquisition.

Crystal Dey

Crystal Dey is a staff reporter for the Echo Press. Originally from Minnesota’s Iron Range, Dey worked for newspapers in North Dakota, Florida and Connecticut before returning to her home state to join the Echo Press in October 2011. Dey studied Mass Communications at Minnesota State University Moorhead with an emphasis in Online Journalism. Follow Staff Reporter Crystal Dey on Twitter at @CrystalDey_Echo.

Tags: local news, news, updates, ahra, commissioners, alexandria