The leadership of the Wisconsin Builders Association is looking to boost the affordable housing market in the state, including Door and Kewaunee counties. Jeff Dorner from Van’s Lumber and Custom Builders in Dyckesville became the president of the WBA earlier this year. He says besides the challenges brought about by the pandemic, excessive governmental regulations impede growing the building industry and creating affordable housing. The WBA has been reaching out to legislators the past month. 

Dorner, who is also the treasurer of the Door County Home Builders Association, adds that the building industry locally has been steady as a whole this summer, but face significantly higher costs of certain products like treated lumber. Building contractors have been waiting up to seven weeks, in some cases, for windows and interior doors from Canada.