Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sherburne County adopts homeowner rehabilitation loan program under new housing trust fund
Summary
After a public hearing, Sherburne County commissioners approved program criteria to use the county's newly created Housing Trust Fund to make low-interest homeowner rehabilitation loans, to be repaid through property special assessments.
Sherburne County commissioners on a unanimous vote approved establishment of a homeowner rehabilitation loan program under the county's recently created Housing Trust Fund, following a public hearing and staff presentation.
The program will offer low-interest loans to property owners for replacement or repair of failing systems, energy-efficiency upgrades and accessibility accommodations, with repayment collected through special assessments on the property.
Brian Fleming, the county's economic development coordinator, told the board that "with the passage of the housing trust fund ordinance in February, the Sherburne County created and established the Sherburne County Housing Trust Fund" and that staff had developed the proposed homeowner program for the board's review. He said the loan documents were reviewed and approved "as to form" by the county attorney's office and that "pursuant to Minnesota state statute and the housing trust fund ordinance" a public hearing was required before establishing program criteria.
The loan program documents presented to the board set program criteria, an application process and an appeals procedure. Fleming asked the board after the hearing to "approve the establishment of the Sherburne County Housing Trust Fund homeowner rehabilitation loan program and related program criteria, application and appeals process as presented and recommended." Commissioner Holes moved to approve; Commissioner Danielowski seconded the motion, and the board voted in favor.
Why it matters: the new program creates a county-backed financing option aimed at preserving existing housing stock by helping property owners pay for necessary repairs and improvements that they might otherwise defer. The special-assessment repayment mechanism ties repayment to the property instead of the individual owner.
Discussion vs. decision: the board opened and closed the required public hearing; no members of the public spoke during the hearing. Staff identified the legal basis (state statute and the county housing trust fund ordinance) and recommended approval; commissioners voted to approve.
Next steps: staff will implement the program criteria and begin accepting applications under the new trust fund program.
