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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority - Minutes - 04/02/2025HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OTTERTAIL COUNTY -MINNESOTA The Otter Tail County HRA Board of Commissioners Met for a regular meeting on April 2, 2025 at 12:45 pm Board Members Present: Wayne Johnson, Chairperson Kurt Mortenson Betty Murphy At the Otter Tail County Government Services Center 515 W Fir Ave, Fergus Falls, MN Virtual: Leland Rogness, Vice Chairperson Absent: Jeff Ackerson Others Present: Amy Baldwin, OTC HRA Executive Director Tanya Westra, OTC HRA Housing Program Supervisor Julie Bakken, OTC HRA Accountant Paula Grunewald, OTC HRA Administrative Assistant 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Johnson called the meeting to order at 12:47 pm. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Government Services Center 500 West Fir Avenue Fergus Falls, MN 56537 Amy Baldwin, HRA Executive Director stated that she is requesting the addition of item 5A Resolution 310 Authorizing Execution of Purchase Agreements for Parcels in New York Mills to the agenda. 3. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS Motion made by Kurt Mortenson, second by Betty Murphy to approve the April 2, 2025 Agenda and the Consent Agenda with changes noted above and to also approve the Consent Agenda. Motion passed unanimously. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. 2025 Finance Committee Appointment Motion made by Kurt Mortenson, second by Betty Murphy to approve 2025 Finance Committee nomination of Wayne Johnson and Lee Rogness. Motion passed unanimously. B. Resolution 309 Adopting Amendment to ACOP and Admin Plans Amy Baldwin, HRA Executive Director stated that during the pandemic OTC HRA accepted forms and documentation by email and text messages but this is not secure and data could be breached. The HRA's housing software allows participants to upload forms and documents directly into the participanVapplicant's file which is more secure. Language changes will need to be made in the HCV Administration Plan and PH Admissions and Continued Occupancy plan to reflect how submissions will be accepted. Other proposed changes for the Housing Choice Voucher Program include: 1 ). The language for the initial term of vouchers would be 60 days with two 30-day extensions instead of 120 days with no extensions. 218-998-8730 @ OTTER TAIL COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER @ ottertailcounty.gov LIVE YOUR best life HERE. ------,.-...--~ 2). A family can be absent from the unit no more than 30 consecutive calendar days. If a family member is hospitalized they may be absent for more than 30 days, with HRA approval, but not to exceed 180 consecutive calendar days. Motion made by Kurt Mortenson second by Betty Murphy to approve proposed changes from staff for the Housing Choice Voucher Program Administration Plan and the Public Housing Program's Admission and Continued Occupancy Plan with the changes attached in Exhibit A. Motion passed unanimously. 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Resolution 310 Authorizing Execution of Purchase Agreements for Parcels 73000990605000 and 73000990604000 in New York Mills. Amy Baldwin, HRA Executive Director stated that the previous purchase agreement was signed in 2023 and expired at the end of 2024. As the HRA continues to pursue the development of affordable senior housing on the City-owned parcels, staff recommends entering into the purchase agreement. The City of New York Mills approved the purchase agreement at their March 11, 2025 City Council Meeting. Changes on the document include adding "contingent on sufficient funding" and changing the name of where the copy of those regulations could be obtained at to "the office of the Otter Tail County Recorder". Motion made by Betty Murphy, second by Kurt Mortenson to approve. A Roll Call vote was taken: HRA Board Yea Nay Absent Abstain Jeff Ackerson X Wavne Johnson X Kurt Mortenson X Bettv Murphy X Leland Rogness X Motion passed unanimously 6. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT A. Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines Application for NYM Senior Housing Staff will be completing the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines application for the New York Mills Senior Housing Project. The program provides for grant funding, up to a max of $150,000 per unit or up to $3M per project. The application became available on April 1st and is due on May 1st. Farmers & Merchants State Bank in New York Mills will be the sponsor bank. If funding is approved and the project constructed, a 15-year deed restriction will be required on the property to ensure it continues to serve low-income senior residents. Motion was made by Betty Murphy, second by Kurt Mortenson to approve submitting the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines application for New York Mills Senior Housing Project. A Roll Call vote was taken: HRA Board Yea Nav Jeff Ackerson Wayne Johnson X Kurt Mortenson X Bettv Murphy X Leland Rogness X Motion passed unanimously. B. Housing Funding Application and Legislative Updates Amy Baldwin, HRA Executive Director stated Absent Abstain X Pg.2 • The HRA has submitted an application to MN Housing for the Housing Trust Fund Matching Grant. Applications for Congressionally Directed Spending and Tier 2 Cities from MN Housing will be submitted later this month, all in support of the New York Mills Affordable Senior Housing project. Otter Tail County's Statewide Affordable Housing Aid Allocation would be a good funding fit for the New York Mills Project. Amy asked for direction to request that the County's 2024 and 2025 allocations for the State Affordable Housing Aid be committed to the New York Mills project. Commissioners provided direction to request these funds be allocated to the New York Mills Affordable Senior Housing Project. • From a Federal perspective HUD funding for the HCV program is anticipated to be stable until September 2025 but then expect a 30-40% cut in the next Federal budget year. • We are attending a weekly meeting focused on Federal Housing Funding Updates with the Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP). 7. GENERAL DISCUSSION -TOPICS BY COMMISSIONERS -none 8. ADJOURNMENT At 1 :45 pm a motion was unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting. Secretary/Clerk /Jc,/, 7 /2/JZS:- Date 7 Pg. 3