Of the questions posed to candidates during Tuesday evening’s Carroll Chamber of Commerce Forum, the one that highlighted a stark difference of opinion concerned local government’s role in the community’s housing supply. For more than a decade, housing has been cited by elected officials and economic development professionals as a primary inhibitor to Carroll’s growth. Historically, the city has pursued multiple avenues to address the shortage, from direct incentives for new construction through the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to agreements with housing developers. John Lawson, a candidate for the at-large seat on the Carroll City Council, says growth is worth pursuing but not at taxpayers’ expense.
The other candidate on the Nov. 4 ballot for the at-large seat, Jeff Cayler, says the environment needs to be attractive to developers, especially given the incentives offered by other Iowa communities.
Kyle Bauer, the Ward 3 incumbent, says the city continually and actively pursued incentive opportunities during his time on the council, and the results speak for themselves.
Bauer’s challenger in Ward 3, Tage Henkelman, says he favors incentive programs. However, he is concerned that recent attempts by the city to encourage housing have Carroll acting more like a developer rather than the city government.
Aggregate data shows Carroll currently has around 60 homes on the market and another 10 or so spec homes, condos, etc., which is the most at one time in nearly a decade. While the market is currently diverse, recent housing studies suggest that more housing units at all income levels are still needed to avoid hindering Carroll’s growth potential. You can find video from the full Carroll Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum featuring Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Board of Education candidates and Carroll City Council candidates with this story on our website.
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