The Blue Earth County Board approved several housing-related actions on Dec. 16, including the 2026 EDA public housing operating budget, the Housing Choice Voucher budget and the Public Housing Capital Fund Program.

Nancy (Human Services/housing staff) told the board the voucher program budget runs just over $600,000 and the public housing operating program is about $679,000. Both budgets were previously approved by the City of Mankato and were presented to the county as a formality for authorization; commissioners approved them by motion.

The board then opened a public hearing on the 2026 Public Housing Capital Fund Program. Nancy outlined a five-year plan and described capital-improvement allocations, HUD RAD conversion needs-assessment work, and an estimated annual capital-improvement allocation of about $244,000. She said resident advisory meetings have been held and residents were pleased overall but cited needs for improved fiber/Internet access, parking maintenance and smoking-policy clarifications. With no members of the public stepping forward to comment, the board approved the capital fund program as presented.

Nancy also updated commissioners on the county’s affordable housing trust fund: staff reported the county allocated statewide Affordable Housing Aid dollars for 2023 and 2024 (each $165,141) into the local housing trust and that some projects may return seeking trust funds. She described Homestead Apartments, where a July flood displaced about 40 families and caused estimated damages of roughly $3.34 million, with a deductible around $441,000 and some unreimbursed costs; developers may seek trust-fund support as a loan or grant. Nancy briefed the board on the Trellis Supportive Housing Project, which has Low Income Housing Tax Credit financing and county ARPA support but may face supportive-services funding gaps because of HUD reallocation; county reserve funds of $1 million were cited as a long-term support mechanism for services.