Othello approves funding for housing study

Will determine need

OTHELLO - The Othello City Council plans to pay up to $7,497, the full cost, for a housing assessment study.

The assessment will provide information related to the housing needs of Othello, income levels and other demographic information in an effort to attract developers.

At a previous meeting, the Port of Othello and Adams County commissioners expressed interest in splitting the cost of the housing assessment equally, City Administrator Ehman Sheldon said Tuesday.

The commissioners declined to fund the housing assessment last week at a board meeting.

The Port of Othello may still fund part of the study, he said. Council requested the port fund half of the cost of the study but a decision was not given at the Monday meeting.

Washington State University Real Estate Research Director Glen Crellin will collect and analyze the information.

Once the information is completed, it will be distributed to developers to prove there is a housing need in Othello.

At a previous meeting several citizens testified about the housing crisis. Some said there is nowhere to live while others said the only available homes are too expensive.

The motion to fund the housing assessment was approved by Councilmembers Ken Johnson, Ken Caylor, Dan Dever, Mark Snyder and Tim Wilson.

Councilmembers Eleanor Brodahl and Marc Spohr voted against the motion because they wanted to wait for the port and commissioners to make a final decision about possibly funding the study, Sheldon said.

Mayor Shannon McKay was absent from the meeting. Spohr served as mayor in McKay's absence.