Henning EDA to establish steering committee for housing study
News | Published on July 23, 2025 at 11:37am EDT | Author: henningmaster
0Committee made up of EDA members, local residents
By Chad Koenen
Publisher
In a meeting lasting just under 20 minutes, the Henning EDA met briefly last Thursday morning to establish a new housing study steering committee. The committee was not set in stone, but EDA members hoped to get a list of 7-9 people that include EDA members, city councilors and a few people from the general public to help representatives from CEDA to understand potential needs in the community.
The housing study is an expansive look at future housing and business needs that could help to guide future development in the community. Parkers Prairie and Pelican Rapids have recently completed a similar study as well.
The steering committee will be put in place before the housing study kickoff on Monday, Aug. 13.
In addition to the steering committee, EDA member Glenn Scott said he would like the EDA to focus on trying to determine businesses and services that the community has lost or needs and take an active role in trying to fill that void.
Scott used the example of Henning’s dentist Mike Berglund who retired a few years ago and has resulted in a void in the community when no dentist has taken over the practice. He also used his upholstery shop as another example of a business that will eventually need to find a replacement when he wants to retire.
Scott said Henning needs a dentist in town and the business brought a number of people to the community who also purchased groceries, gas and even got food from restaurants when they came to town.
“He did bring a lot of people to town and then it is up to us to keep that business,” said Scott of the trickle down of having a wide variety of service-style businesses in Henning.
He suggested the EDA take a more active role in recruiting a new dentist to come to town, or even talk to Berglund or people with empty storefronts to see if they would be interested in selling the building.
Several EDA board members said even if a dentist cannot be found, perhaps the former dental building or other vacant properties in town could be utilized for things like a daycare.
No action was formally taken on the discussion.