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Sherburne County authorizes short-term higher payouts for septic-replacement grants to use remaining state funds
Summary
The county board approved a temporary change allowing eligible property owners to apply for a single septic-replacement grant of up to $10,000–$11,000 to exhaust remaining one‑time state funds while preserving recurring program dollars.
Sherburne County commissioners on a routine consent item approved a temporary change to how the county applies two state septic-replacement grants, allowing eligible homeowners to receive a single award of up to $10,000–$11,000 until one‑time funds are exhausted.
County Administrator Messelt told the board staff wants to maximize use of a one‑time state grant and protect the recurring program that provides a $5,000 award. "We're now nearing the end of the special state grant program. There is approximately $37,000 left in that program," Messelt said, and staff recommended allowing single applications for up to $10/11,000 so the one‑time money gets used rather than returned to the state.
The change matters to low‑income property owners and to local groundwater protection because the grants fund replacement of failing individual sewage treatment systems (ISTS). Under the approved approach applicants would still be income‑based; they would apply for a single combined payout (up to the higher limit) and would not be eligible to stack the recurring and one‑time awards to exceed the single cap.
Messelt described the mechanics: the two pots are a recurring state appropriation and a separate two‑year supplemental program the state created. County policy had previously capped local disbursements at $5,000 (or $6,000 in shoreline districts) and allowed applicants to pursue both grants in combination. Staff asked the board to allow single applications up to $10/11,000 for the remaining one‑time funds through June 30 to preserve the recurring fund at its usual level after the special program ends.
Commissioners pressed for clarity about where county money would come from. Commissioner Schumacher asked whether the higher payouts would draw from county funds; staff said the intent is to use remaining one‑time state grant dollars first and preserve recurring county‑administered funds for future applicants.
The board approved the amendment to the MPCA grant program as presented and directed staff to proceed with the short‑term policy change and to bring further details to a workshop when appropriate.
The change aims to spend down roughly $37,000 in one‑time money and avoid returning it to the state while keeping the county's ongoing low‑income septic replacement program intact at its regular maximum award after the state special program ends on June 30.
