Construction of new military family housing nearly complete at Fort McCoy

Construction of seven new homes in military family housing continues to make progress with the project being 90 percent complete, said Nathan Butts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Resident Office at Fort McCoy.

Contractor Relyant Global LLC of Maryville, Tenn., began work on the $6.6 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-led project in summer 2019. Since then, the contractor has continued to steadily make progress even though everyone associated with the project has had to adjust their operations because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Aug. 21, workers were delivering and installing ranges and refrigerators in two of the homes, Butts said. The delivery of the kitchen appliances in the remaining five houses has been pushed back a couple weeks. Additionally, dishwashers for all seven houses have been ordered, and much other indoor work continues..

“Plus outside the contractor continues to water plantings and grass,” Butts said.

The construction includes building three four-bedroom and four three-bedroom houses, Butts said.

In 2017, Fort McCoy accepted the completion of 56 new homes, which brought the total in the housing area to 113. This project will increase the housing area’s total to 120 homes when completed.

An Army Housing Market Analysis completed in 2017 determined Fort McCoy has a housing requirement of 134 units based on personnel needs for housing. A housing deficit was created when Fort McCoy discontinued a lease for 80 homes in Tomah, Wis., in 2011.

According to Housing Manager Zachery Hynes with the Directorate of Public Works (DPW) Housing Division, 22 of the current 113 homes are officer homes (nine three-bedroom and 13 four-bedroom), and 91 are enlisted homes (55 three-bedroom and 36 four-bedroom).

“All of these new units will be officer housing, and we’re glad the work is being completed to get us to the 120 homes we are authorized. It will help minimize our lengthy waiting list.”

The DPW Housing Division will be in charge of the new units once complete.

The division consist of three branches, including the Army Family Housing Office (on-post housing), Housing Services Office (off-post housing), and Unaccompanied Personnel Housing (single Soldier barracks for E-1 to E-5 ranks).

Hynes said they are always available for their customers.

“Being here in the South Post Housing area, close to our customers, and serving as a hub for them is extremely important for our ability to provide great service,” Hynes said.

For more information about all support and services available by the DPW Housing Division staff, visit their offices in the South Post Community Center.

Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin.

The installation has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services each year since 1984.