As we wind down 2022 and look forward to 2023, our team at Door County Knock is reflecting on the stories we’ve covered this year.
In the past 12 months, we’ve extensively covered local government in Door County, including by tracking the county government’s use of nearly $5.4 million in Covid relief money. That reporting included in-depth stories on some of the issues those funds could address, including affordable housing, child care and addiction treatment.
We’ve covered other major stories on the peninsula, such as the increase in accidents at the intersection of Gordon Road and County Highway 42/57, the future of the Forestville Dam, and efforts to improve affordable home ownership opportunities.
And we’ve continued to follow the issues affecting Door County residents’ lives, including with deep-dive reporting on rising addiction-related needs and the launch of our series on the short-term rental industry.
Here’s our best reporting of 2022.
Best of In-Depth Reporting
Sober living facility could fill crucial void for addiction recovery in Door County
By Andrew Phillips
A proposed sober living facility in Door County would provide more options and increased flexibility for addiction treatment and lead to better outcomes in recovery, according to county Health and Human Services leaders.
Affordable housing initiatives could add hundreds of units to Door County in coming years
By Lily Sweeney
Two affordable housing projects in Door County, supported partially by federal funding allocated by the county government, could result in the construction of more than 700 new affordable housing units in the county over the next two decades.
Child care proposal would bolster at-home providers, focus on worker retention
By Logan Thomas
A county government proposal using federal funding would provide more support to at-home child care facilities and providers in Door County.
Door County has added more than 500 new short-term rentals since 2018, records show
By Andrew Phillips and Samuel Kersebet
More than 500 new short-term rental businesses have been created in Door County since the start of 2018, a Knock analysis of public records has found. Moreover, the total number of short-term rental units in the county now exceeds the number of hotel and motel rooms for the first time, the records show.
Best of Local Government Reporting
County considering child care, housing, addiction treatment for $5.3 million in federal funding
By Andrew Phillips
The Door County government in January began considering projects to bolster child care, help fund the construction of new affordable housing and create a new long-term addiction recovery center as part of its use of the more than $5.3 million the county will receive through the federal American Rescue Plan.
Nasewaupee votes to leave Southern Door Fire Department
By Peter Devlin
There’s a new volunteer fire department taking shape in Door County. A crowd was on hand in August as the Nasewaupee Town Board voted to form a new fire department for the town.
Out-of-home placements for Door County children have roughly doubled this year, county says
By Andrew Phillips
The number of Door County children in out-of-home placements such as foster care has roughly doubled this year compared to last year, in large part due to mental health and addiction issues among parents, leaders of the county Health and Human Services (HHS) department said this fall.
Gordon Road intersection changes won’t come until spring after delayed state approval, county says
By Andrew Phillips
Safety improvements to a Town of Sevastopol intersection that were originally planned for this year now won’t happen until the spring, county officials said in November, after what they described as delays in getting state approval for their plans.
County Board approves $263K in grants to health and human service nonprofit organizations
By Lily Sweeney
The Door County Board of Supervisors in December approved more than $263,000 in grants to 11 health and human service nonprofit organizations. The funds primarily are being drawn from a previously approved grant program and will utilize a portion of the Covid relief money allocated under the American Rescue Plan, a 2021 federal law.
Best of Features
Amid housing shortage, Door County Housing Partnership pursues affordable home ownership solutions
By Lily Sweeney
Amid Door County’s ongoing affordable housing shortage, the Door County Housing Partnership is working to make home ownership more attainable for local working families.
Options for future of Forestville Dam include removal, transferring ownership, county says
By Peter Devlin
More than two years after a drawdown of the millpond at Forestville Dam County Park began, options for the area’s future include removing the dam and transferring ownership of the park, county officials said last month.
Door County’s LGBTQ advocacy organizations reach a turning point in their growth
By Betsy Lecy
Three LGBTQ advocacy organizations in Door County have reached a turning point in their growth this year, celebrating milestones and expanding their staffing and educational efforts.
As United Way expands child care efforts, a pilot program could help 25 families in its first 9 months
By Andrew Phillips
A pilot program matching employer contributions toward employees’ child care costs could help at least 25 families in the coming year, a United Way coordinator said in October. It came as United Way also has made progress in efforts to improve access to home-based child care facilities in Door County.