It appears that seniors will have some more opportunities to pick where they choose to live in Mexico in the next few years.

The Mexico City Council approved Bill Bo. 2022-33 by a 4-1 (Steve Haag voting nay) and the Mars Street Project Development Area and the beginning of setting up a new tract of up to 40 new senior housing units.

The approval allows for the rezoning of a property located bounded on the west by Mary Street and to the east by Highway J. The request comes from Kenneth W. McCue – the landowner and developer - to rezone his property and begin the project forthwith.

McCue is happy with the decision to move forward with this project, and he sees the importance of it in Mexico’s future. 

“I am trying to fulfill a need for senior housing,” McCue said. “I am doing that by working with the Berkshire Apartments that already exist and they have 29 units. I am working with them in providing them the land – about five to eight acres. I have 40 acres to the east next door to the Berkshire Apartments. I am co-developing, it’s a joint venture.

“They have a waiting list already for seniors and they want to fulfill the need and help them find a place to live.”

Qualifications include the tenants must be at least 55 years old and it will be affordable as a tax-credit property to be affordable to seniors. 

Tenants would also have to meet income guidelines established by the tax-credit commission, according to McCue, including having a good credit rating and showing a need for this type of housing.

“It’s mainly for seniors that live by themselves or even some couples,” he said. “It’s for those people in need and really don’t have anywhere else to go.”

As far as the development process, McCue said Mexico still has to put in the street connecting East and West Mars before he can “move any dirt.”

That is projected to take place this fall, and the hope is the homes could be put up within a year or 18 months.

“I’ve got to get through the property first,” McCue said. “It will probably be spring before we actually break ground. I am guessing it would be the end of 2023.”

Some of the amenities that might be included would be on-site management to be available for immediate needs and the potential for a built-in walking trail.

“We have a real need for senior housing in Mexico,” McCue said. 

For more information email mexicoseniordevelopment@gmail.com. 

OTHER ITEMS

• Discussion on Bill No. 2022-36 was tabled for now as the council hoped to gather more information to look further into renewable energy system regulations for the city.

City Manager Bruce Slagle said Mexico doesn’t have any ordinances in place to guide movement on any such technology that could come into existence in the future. 

“This ordinance is essentially asking the council to pass an ordinance to set up the parameters on how you would deal with and regulate one of these and allow it to be built,” Slagle said. “All they are saying is that the council needs a little bit of information. There are some things they do and don’t like.

“It’s growing in popularity.”

The Ordinance will regulate the placement, construction and modification of Renewable Energy Systems to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public but not interfere with the use of the systems in the City.

• The council approved Bill No. 2022-37, authorizing a contract to be entered with Kim Hoskins Environmental Consulting for Industrial Pretreatment Program Services.

Slagle said, with some industries in town that put out large amounts of wastewater or water from their processing systems, that could become subject to contamination. 

“We have a pretreatment agreement that means they have to clean the water to a certain degree before they send it to us,” he said. “She helps us oversee those permits and set those permits up and help us regulate those and so on.”

Hoskins’ role was expanded into these areas because there are more examples of these types of situations in Mexico and this will further ensure everything is done safely.

• The council approved the appointments of Michael Myers and Bryan Gruber’s new 3-year terms on the planning and zoning commission.
• The council approved the appointments of Karen Mossman and Steve Sims’ 3-years terms on the Mexico Audrain Library Board.
• The council approved Kathy Hopkins, Lindsay Isgrig and Terry Henage’s 3-year terms on the Mexico Park Board. 

All these terms were renewed following expirations in June and July. John Walker was appointed to the unexpired term on the Mexico Audrain Library Board. His term expires next year.