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DW Jones regional manager briefs HRA on repairs, vacancies and delinquency policies
Summary
Rob Braswell, DW Jones' regional manager for Park Rapids, told the Hubbard County HRA/EDA the company is prioritizing repairs at Regency Apartments, will seek bids for flooring and lighting, and recommends changing deposit practices after high accounts receivable; he outlined different eviction thresholds for affordable versus market-rate units.
Rob Braswell, the newly assigned regional manager for Park Rapids at DW Jones, briefed the Hubbard County HRA/EDA on occupancy, maintenance and delinquency challenges at agency-owned rental properties and outlined near-term plans to repair unrentable units.
Braswell told the board he has been with DW Jones for four years and recently took the regional role for Park Rapids. "My name is Rob Braswell," he said when introduced. He described work by ICS to complete a capital needs assessment and said the immediate plan for Regency Apartments includes replacing common-area fluorescent fixtures with LEDs, replacing common-area flooring, and addressing significant repairs in three apartments that are currently not rentable.
On funding, the Director noted the HRA has about $121,000 in grant funds and county set-aside dollars totaling roughly $221,000; about $58,000 of that has already gone to new decks. Braswell said bids will be solicited and construction could start in mid-April or May, subject to grant rules and bid processes.
Board members pressed Braswell on tenant-selection and collection practices. Braswell criticized a prior $99 move-in special: "I do not like the $99 deposit special," he said, arguing it leaves the landlord little recourse to cover damages. He recommended using first-month rent or another deposit approach. He also described DW Jones’ delinquency protocol: "At our affordable properties, we have to wait until their unpaid balance exceeds 1.5 times their monthly rent," after which termination notice procedures may follow; market-rate properties have shorter eviction timelines.
Braswell described outreach efforts—calling, knocking on doors, offering payment plans and, when appropriate, mutual move agreements—to avoid formal evictions. He also said affordable properties are inspected at least once a year and that staff will use inspections and site reports to catch maintenance issues earlier.
Next steps: Braswell said he will speak with the company accountant and provide the board the missing monthly owner/financial reports and a consolidated RealPage summary, as described in the management plan.
