MONROE - Low income doesn't mean low-life. Respect and pride in the community has made Monroe Village Apartments a recipient of the USDA Rural Development's Award of Excellence this year.
The USDA presents the award each June to multi-family housing property owners who continuously demonstrate their commitment to providing quality, affordable housing to the tenants they serve.
USDA Rural Development State Director Frank Frassetto presented the award to property site manager Donna Tatum June 12, in recognition of her continued dedication to provide affordable housing to residents of rural Wisconsin. The USDA southwestern Wisconsin area office, covering eight counties, chose the complex for the award out of 102 candidates.
The 64-unit complex on Fourth Avenue West includes living space with flower trestles, a water fountain, new trees and flower gardens. They all are Tatum's work.
The complex rarely has vacancies.
Complex resident Darlin Foulker said Tatum deserves the award.
"She wanted respect and people here to respect their homes; and we respect each other," Foulker said. "I'm very proud to be here. These aren't just apartments; these are our homes."
Tatum took over management in July 2000, at a time when the complex couldn't keep a manager.
Some residents were afraid to step onto their decks at night because of the drinking parties, loud music and drug use in the yards and parking lots.
Mike Walter, a resident since 1991, said he has seen managers come and go. A few didn't last a week.
"We had managers who would drink with the tenants and everything," he said. "Most managers didn't stay."
Tatum said the summer she came was hot and dry; grass was non-existent. She decided to wait until the next spring to see what plants would come up.
"One tulip came up," she said.
It was a tiny sign of hope.
Tatum said she has lived in apartments most of her life, but had no previous management experience. The area manager called her and asked her to take the job.
"You'll catch on," she told Tatum.
Tatum credits the Monroe Police Department, especially Officer Mark Dombkowski, for helping her get a grip on the place she called "a nightmare."
"Without them, I wouldn't have lasted two weeks," she said. "Officer Dombkowski saved my neck. He took me under his wing. They said, 'Get some lights in here.' It was too dark."
Tatum said Dombkowski helped her "weed out who didn't live here and told me what to watch for."
He also advised her to join the Green/Lafayette County Property Owners Association.
Tatum has one maintenance man, but is particular about maintenance. Keeping up the Monroe Village Apartments is a working example of reciprocal respect.
If something needs fixing, Foulker said she calls Tatum and it's taken care of.
"She gets right to it," she said. "As a tenant, I don't have to worry about a thing."
"I can't do it by myself," Tatum said. "They have to let me know right away. It's their responsibility to let you know."
In turn, Tatum is delighted with her area managers at Professional Property Management, LLC, Rockford.
"They have been wonderful to me. I can call them and tell them something needs to be changed. They'll take care of it.
"It takes all of us. I'm proud of the place," she said.
Today the complex, constructed in 1980, is home to about 80 people, and Tatum makes sure people slow down in the driveway. About 10 families have children.
The living conditions now are "definitely better for kids," Foulker said. "You can be proud to live here. It's because she does this."
The USDA presents the award each June to multi-family housing property owners who continuously demonstrate their commitment to providing quality, affordable housing to the tenants they serve.
USDA Rural Development State Director Frank Frassetto presented the award to property site manager Donna Tatum June 12, in recognition of her continued dedication to provide affordable housing to residents of rural Wisconsin. The USDA southwestern Wisconsin area office, covering eight counties, chose the complex for the award out of 102 candidates.
The 64-unit complex on Fourth Avenue West includes living space with flower trestles, a water fountain, new trees and flower gardens. They all are Tatum's work.
The complex rarely has vacancies.
Complex resident Darlin Foulker said Tatum deserves the award.
"She wanted respect and people here to respect their homes; and we respect each other," Foulker said. "I'm very proud to be here. These aren't just apartments; these are our homes."
Tatum took over management in July 2000, at a time when the complex couldn't keep a manager.
Some residents were afraid to step onto their decks at night because of the drinking parties, loud music and drug use in the yards and parking lots.
Mike Walter, a resident since 1991, said he has seen managers come and go. A few didn't last a week.
"We had managers who would drink with the tenants and everything," he said. "Most managers didn't stay."
Tatum said the summer she came was hot and dry; grass was non-existent. She decided to wait until the next spring to see what plants would come up.
"One tulip came up," she said.
It was a tiny sign of hope.
Tatum said she has lived in apartments most of her life, but had no previous management experience. The area manager called her and asked her to take the job.
"You'll catch on," she told Tatum.
Tatum credits the Monroe Police Department, especially Officer Mark Dombkowski, for helping her get a grip on the place she called "a nightmare."
"Without them, I wouldn't have lasted two weeks," she said. "Officer Dombkowski saved my neck. He took me under his wing. They said, 'Get some lights in here.' It was too dark."
Tatum said Dombkowski helped her "weed out who didn't live here and told me what to watch for."
He also advised her to join the Green/Lafayette County Property Owners Association.
Tatum has one maintenance man, but is particular about maintenance. Keeping up the Monroe Village Apartments is a working example of reciprocal respect.
If something needs fixing, Foulker said she calls Tatum and it's taken care of.
"She gets right to it," she said. "As a tenant, I don't have to worry about a thing."
"I can't do it by myself," Tatum said. "They have to let me know right away. It's their responsibility to let you know."
In turn, Tatum is delighted with her area managers at Professional Property Management, LLC, Rockford.
"They have been wonderful to me. I can call them and tell them something needs to be changed. They'll take care of it.
"It takes all of us. I'm proud of the place," she said.
Today the complex, constructed in 1980, is home to about 80 people, and Tatum makes sure people slow down in the driveway. About 10 families have children.
The living conditions now are "definitely better for kids," Foulker said. "You can be proud to live here. It's because she does this."