HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority - Minutes - 04/21/2022HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The Otter Tail County HRA Board of Commissioners
Met for a regular meeting on April 21 , 2022 at 2:30 pm
At the Otter Tail County Government Services Center
500 W Fir Ave, Fergus Falls, MN
Board Members Present:
Wayne Johnson, Chairperson
John Lindquist
Robert Maki, Secretary
Kurt Mortenson
Betty Murphy
Leland Rogness, Vice Chairperson
Others Present:
Barbara Dacy, OTC HRA Executive Director
Paula Grunewald, OTC HRA Administrative Assistant
Kelly Miller, OTC HRA Housing Assistance Coordinator
Amy Baldwin, OTC CDA Director
Via Teams
Tanya Westra, OTC HRA Project Manager
Kris Vipond, OTC Assistant Finance Director
1. Call to Order
Government Services Center
500 West Fir Avenue
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Chairperson Johnson called the meeting to order at 2:37 p.m. Kelly Miller, new Housing Assistance Coordinator
was introduced.
2. Approval of Agenda
Motion made by Rogness, second by Johnson to approve the April 21 , 2022 Agenda with no changes noted.
Motion passed unanimously.
3. Approval of Consent Agenda Items
Motion made by Mortenson, second by Murphy to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion passed unanimously.
4. New Business
A. Resolution No. 193 Adopting a Conflict of Interest Policy. Director Dacy reported that the Conflict of
Interest Policy was developed with legal counsel, and it mirrors state statues. Motion made by Murphy, second by
Maki to approve. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Resolution No. 194 Authorizing Execution of Joint Powers Agreement with the Otter Tail County
Community Development Agency. Director Dacy reported that OTC HRA has a Nationwide Mortgage Licensing
System number and in order to act of the behalf of CDA when issuing loans, she recommends that we have a joint
powers agreement. Motion made by Mortenson, second by Maki to approve. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Resolution No. 195 Approving Template Loan and Grant Documents for the Community Housing
Investment Programs and Small City Development Program. Director Dacy reported that these template
documents will be used for loan and grant documents. The documents were developed with legal counsel.
Motion made by Rogness, second by Mortenson to approve. Motion passed unanimously.
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D. Resolution No. 196 Authorizing the Project Manager to Execute Loan and GrantDocuments in the
Absence of the Executive Director for the Community Housing Investment Programs and Small City
Development Programs. Dacy reported there may be times when she is out of the office and documents need to
be signed in a timely manner. This resolution allows the Project Manager to sign on her behalf. Motion made by
Murphy, second by Maki to approve. Motion passed unanimously.
5. Discussion
A. Housing Choice Voucher Board Report March 2022. Staff has revised the monthly report for the Housing
Choice Voucher program. The report provides the key information regarding the amount of housing assistance
payments paid to residential rental property owners, the number of new admissions, the number of vouchers
porting in/out of the jurisdiction, and the number ending participation. These items in general relate to the monthly
accounting report staff submits electronically to HUD; Program requirements dictate that housing authorities
either spend 98% of its "budget authority" or lease 98% of its baseline vouchers. Dacy explained that there is a
shortage of affordable housing as renters are unable. to find units to rent or ones that they can afford to rent. HUD
carried forward the assessment rating from a previous year for 2021, but she is not sure what will happen in 2022.
Suggestions were made to work on landlord participation.
B. Insurance Update and Joint Powers Agreement with the County. At the end of 2021, the Board authorized
staff to investigate the Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust for insurance purposes. Director Dacy presented
recommended policies, purJJoses, and providers. Discussion topics included discrimination, errors & omissions,
what "could" happen, and cost.· Rogness suggested that the county assess its poiicies. Motion made by
Rogness, second by Mortenson to authorize the application of the Indian Harbor insurance. Motion passed
unanimously.
6. Executive Director Report
Housing Summit Follow Up. Dacy reported that staff is responding to inquiries as a result of the-Summit.
First Time Homebuyer Program. The HRA participates in the state's Minnes_ota Cities Participation Program,
which is a partnership between local bankers/mortgage providers and the .. state to provide low interest financing
and down payment assistance to first time homebuyers. As of March 31, there have been no mortgages
committed under this program in the county. This is unusual and may be due to rising interest rates and low
listings.
PHA Plan Public Hearing and Comment Period. A comment period to amend the 5 Year PHA Plan regarding
the dissolution of the HRA and empowering the CDA with housing and redevelopment powers, has been
established by publication beginning on March 31 and ending on Thursday, May 19, 2022. The public hearing-has
also been established before the HRA Board on May 19, 2022. A letter explaining the process and impact on
program participants was mailed on April 1, 2022.
2021 Audit. Brady Marti: will be conducting the 2021 Audit. Their firm will begin the audit the week of May 16
and have provided HRA with an audit document checklist.
7. General Discussion
None.
8. Adjournment
At 3:45 p.m. a motion was unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting.
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Robert Maki/Secretary/Clerk Date
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