NEW ULM — The New Ulm Economic Development Authority (EDA) adopted the public housing operating budget for the fiscal year.

The Public Housing operating budget covers the day to day operations of the EDA’s 50 public housing units. The EDA has 40 units at Broadway Haus Apartments and 10 scattered site family unit rental houses.

This was budget was described as a status quo budget compared to the current fiscal year. Capital fund grants are not included in the budget. For the current fiscal year, through May, there is a surplus of approximately $32,427.

Housing Coordinator Heather Bregel said the surplus was partly due to the maintenance position that went unfilled for six months. The projected surplus for the upcoming budget is $15,500.

EDA Chair Daniel Braam asked if the EDA has a budget surplus for multiple year, whether the federal government would reallocated money away from New Ulm’s public housing.

Bregel said public housing has a contract that requires funding as long as public housing are operated.

“It shouldn’t have anything to do with our back account,” Bregel said.

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Under the economic development report, City Manager Chris Dalton said the city is working on a business relocation. The city is trying to set a closing date to sell the land behind Walmart for a freight warehouse business.

Dalton said he is still working with a potential developer looking at the Garden Terrace site for apartments to find a new suitable site. A new potential site has been found for the developer. Information on the new site was sent to the developer.

The Downtown Action Team is seeking artists to design a mural on the side of the Nuvera building. The New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce wants artists to pitch ideas and concepts for artwork on the Nuvera building. Dalton said the design work will printed on a billboard like material that will be placed on the building.