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Meeker County approves support services for 10-unit Lichfield H housing project
Summary
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing development and oversight of housing support services for the Lichfield H project, a 10‑unit development. Commissioners said the county expects modest staff time and that financing via Minnesota Housing remains competitive but not guaranteed.
Meeker County commissioners on June 2 approved a resolution authorizing the development and oversight of housing support services for the Lichfield H project, a 10‑unit housing development the county has been discussing in prior work sessions.
Tina Shank presented the item and asked the board to authorize the county’s role. She said the county’s involvement is limited to providing housing support services for that one project and described the staffing impact as modest: about 35 hours in the first year and roughly 10–15 hours per year afterward. “It’s for the one project with the 10 units. That is a relatively minor impact on staff time,” Shank said.
Commissioners discussed timing and financing. Shank and others noted the project is not scheduled to open until 2029, with the county likely to begin work on services in late 2028 or early 2029. Financing for the project is being pursued through multiple sources, including a competitive application to Minnesota Housing; Shank emphasized that award of those funds is not guaranteed. “This gives them enough points to be competitive,” she said of the county’s support, but added that there is “no guarantee” the application will be successful.
A motion to approve the resolution was moved and seconded; the board voted in favor. Commissioners recorded affirmative responses: Commissioner Johnson, Commissioner Vanort, Commissioner Somi, Commissioner Schmidt and Commissioner Oberg all stated “yes” during the vote.
Why it matters: the county’s oversight of housing support services links local case management and tenant supports to the project’s financing strategy. Commissioners and staff framed county participation as low-cost in staff time but potentially important to the project’s competitiveness for state funding.
Next steps: staff will coordinate timing with the project’s financing schedule and begin preparatory work as the project approaches its 2029 start window. The resolution authorizes county oversight specific to Lichfield H; any expansion of that support to other projects would require further board action.
