County law director asks commission to release 2014 home-rehab deed of trust lien

Sumner County’s law director asked the commission May 5 to approve a release of a homeowners rehabilitation deed of trust executed in 2014, saying county records and program terms support releasing the lien.

Law Director Walter (as identified in meeting discussion) told commissioners a citizen representative requested a release for a specific piece of property. After reviewing county records and consulting the program administrator, the law director said the rehabilitation project was complete, the original party who held the deed of trust is deceased, and county program terms reduce obligations over time so that the outstanding amounts are waived under the deed’s terms.

“I see no valid reason why we aren’t obligated to release this lien on the piece of property,” the law director said on the record. He added that register-of-deeds records showed no recorded release but that program staff believed a release had previously been executed or the deed’s terms now support a ministerial release.

Commissioners moved and approved the release by voice vote. The law director said the county is statutorily obligated to record the release with the register of deeds and that staff had checked county records before making the recommendation.

The action is ministerial: staff said it clears title for a privately owned property where program conditions are met and does not create a new program or financial exposure for the county beyond administrative recording.