Fourth-two interested citizens attended a public meeting Wednesday afternoon at the Plymouth Public Library to get information on an owner-occupied rehab program that could be implemented in the county if the county is designated as Stellar later this year.
Jerry Chavez from the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation, Brent Martin a local architect, Dean Byers from Habitat from Humanity, City Attorney Sean Surrisi and Angie Rupchuck- Shafer from the Marshall County Community Foundation are members of the Housing Committee. They invited the public to the meeting to the explain an opportunity to improve housing options to area residents through the Owner Occupied Rehab Program. If the Stellar Designation is given the Marshall County $500,000 will be set aside for this project although it was noted that if the county is not designated they will apply through a similar program for a $350,000 grant. Income qualifying individuals will be able to use up to $25,000 in grant funds to have specific improvements made in their homes.
The grant has specific guidelines on what the grant money can be used for primarily in the area of health and safety. Martin said, a scope of work will be developed for each of the homes with details so they can get proposals from contractors to do the improvements. Bids would be accepted as public works projects so the lowest and most responsible bidder would get the job and the homeowner wouldn’t make the determination on who would be hired for the project. It was noted that mobile homes are not qualifying structures for this program.
Improvement projects that are eligible include: moisture intrusion, mold assessment and remediation, insulation, smoke alarms, non-functioning furnaces, combustible appliances that are a code violation, electrical systems that are not up to building code and plumbing deficiencies that don’t meet code. Other health and safety projects include emergency alert systems, roofing systems, access to doorways and ADA handicap accessibility issues such as bathtubs.
Timing for the Owner Occupied Rehab Project would be late winter once the county has been designated Stellar. In the spring of 2020 the committee would contact homeowners to begin the site visits and create the scope of work for each home. The projects would be bid and work is not expected to begin until the fall of 2020 at the earliest.
The meeting on Wednesday shows the state the need and interest in Marshall County but didn’t automatically sign up homeowners to participate. The committee wanted to organize who in the countymight need a project like this and start developing a list of contacts and gain some basic information.
The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority is the agency funding this project and will have to give their approval to the repairs. It was noted that all communities in the county as well as the outlying homer occupied homes that can quality are eligible.
Those attending the meeting that were interested in participating in the project were asked to complete a form letter of interest that will be presented to the Marshall County Stellar group.
Another meeting will be held in Bourbon this Friday, September 6th at noon at the Matchett Center. Anyone from Marshall County who may be interested in welcome to attend.
For more information contact Brent Martin at 574-269-1596 or email him at brent@srkmarch.com.
