The Marshall County Commissioner approved two change orders for the Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Project.
Local architect Brent Martin told the commissioners that the county received $500,000 through the Stellar Designation to assist qualifying low-income, elderly, and single-parent homeowners who need help staying in their homes safely. The project planned to assist 16 families with repairs, including new roofs, furnace replacements, and bathroom modifications.
Two homes in the second phase of the project had overruns for roof decking. A project on Lake Avenue had an addition of $924, while the second project on Sycamore Street had an overrun of $1,452, also for roof decking.
The program is currently in phase III, and one homeowner on Washington Street in Plymouth called Martin on Thanksgiving, saying their sewer was backing up into the basement. The next day, Martin got a contractor to scope the line and remove the blockage on the homeowner's side of the sewer line. That repair cost was $1,410.
Martin said the change orders were all within the allotted $25,000 per home cost.
There is still about $75,000 left in the fund, so Martin said they applied for an extension to complete a couple more housing repair projects. The IHCDA granted them until the end of March 2025. He warned that environmental on the homes typically take at least 2-3 months before the project can be bid. He wasn’t confident that they would be able to complete three more homes before the deadline.
He said one of the projects in phase III won't be able to be completed because of a change in ownership. The grant had been awarded to an elderly with significant health issues. Following hospitalizations, she’s run into financial troubles, and fearing her house would be re-possessed, she transferred the title to her daughter. That transfer means the home is no longer owner-occupied.
Martin said they’ve worked on finding a solution because the home needs the repairs, but he doesn’t have much hope that funding will be approved. He said he would probably be returning with another change order to remove that project and put the $24,000 back into the fund, making it nearly $100,000 of unspent money. Martin suggested that the Commissioners might be able to find some unspent funds to assist. Commissioner Mike Burroughs said they would be opening Pandora’s box if they did that.
New online portal brings transparency to Indiana gas prices during declared energy emergency
Electric vehicle fire training held at Rockville-Adams Township Training Center
Indiana FSSA announces results of HCBS attendant care audits - $200 Million in improper payments
Applications being accepted for Governor’s 2026 Century and Half Century Business Awards
Indiana BMV extending hours for primary election
$675 million impact reported from initial Regional Economic Development funding
PHMS Amazing Shake
Parke Heritage students in competition at FFA District Contest
Indiana's February unemployment rate below national average
Indiana hiring five county executive directors in training positions
Be on the lookout for farm equipment on the road
SW Parke projected to save over a million dollars closing Montezuma Elementary
Changes coming to South Vermillion School Corporation's cell phone policy
Crawfordsville man faces list of felony child sex charges
Domestic incident results in arrest in Parke County
Clinton man nabbed in burglary case
