HAZEL GREEN, Wis. -- Hazel Green's new village hall is on the fast track.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the selection of $13.1 million in community facilities projects -- including the village hall -- that are being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The funding is being provided through the agriculture department's Rural Development's Community Facilities program, which helps finance essential community facilities for public use in rural areas. The facilities include child-care centers, hospitals, medical clinics, assisted-living facilities, fire and rescue stations, police stations, community centers, public buildings and transportation.
The Hazel Green Community Development Authority will receive a $1 million loan -- repaid over a 30-year period at 4.5 percent interest -- to build a 7,500 square-foot village hall and replace the original 1920s-era facility, which is too small and not up to commercial code. The new building will provide an adequately sized space that will house the
| Advertisement |
|---|
|
|
In April, voters in the community of 1,100 backed a new municipal building at its existing site, near the intersection of Wisconsin 11 and Wisconsin 80.
"It's a big, big thing," Hazel Green Village President Dave Jegerlehner said of the federal loan.
KD Engineering Consultants of Dodgeville designed the building; Epic Construction of Dubuque is the general contractor. The projected completion date is May 15. Village employees now are working in temporary quarters.
"If Mother Nature cooperates, we'll make headway during the next week-and-a-half or two weeks," said Pat Udelhofen, Epic's project manager.
The basement is dug, the concrete floor is in place and water and sewer lines are installed. Framing can begin with favorable weather. Udelhofen said the goal is to have the building enclosed by Jan. 1, then drywall and carpentry work can be done early next year. Masonry and brick work is set for April.
"We are completely weather-dependent, especially around this time of the year," Udelhofen cautioned.
He added that the recent sunny skies have helped dry out the foundation.
"This will look nice when it's done," Udelhofen said. "We are going to do a good job. People will like what they see on the corner."
