Wayland looking for more homes to spruce up

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

WAYLAND ? The City of Wayland is looking for a few good homes. More aptly put, the city is looking for owner-occupied homes that need a little tender loving care.

Last year, the city was awarded a community development block grant, through the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission (SEIRPC). The grant comes in the form of a owner-occupied rehabilitation program, which looks to help homeowners bring their homes up to Iowa code.

?Our grant is for up to eight houses,? said City Clerk Beverly Conrad.

Conrad said there are currently two houses that are in the process of construction and repairs and one that is in the initial inspection.

?We did have two other applications, but one did not meet the income requirements and one is outside of the target area at this time,? she said.

In order to drum up some more interest, Conrad sent out some mailers alerting homeowners about the grant last week.

The grant is for $24,999, and is typically used for plumbing, electrical or heating updates, as well as installing new doors, windows, siding or roofs to homes.

?One of the things that people get hung up on, is they (homeowners) want to do what they want to do, but the grant specifies they have to do things that bring the house up to code, which is usually roofing, windows or electrical, those kinds of things,? said Conrad. ?It?s not a cosmetic makeover for your house.?

Conrad recalled that one homeowner was able to make his home handicap accessible, thanks to the grant.

This is the second time the city has received the grant. ?The last time we received the grant, the houses were already in the process of being fixed up when I started,? said Conrad, who became the clerk in 2005.

Homeowner requirements to participate in the program include occupying the residence for at least six months and living in the proposed target area, which encompasses east Wayland.

?Our target area spans as far north as Depot Street, as far west as Jefferson Street and as far south as 4th Street,? Conrad explained.

Other requirements include that the homeowner?s annual income does not exceed 80 percent of the area?s median income, the home must be insured, property taxes paid, the homeowners must be in compliance of all city ordinances and the homeowners must live in the home for five years after completion of the renovations.

If the homeowner doesn?t fulfill the requirement to stay for five years, then they would have to pay the mortgage back to the city because the city would have taken out the loan. The money for this project never touches the homeowners? hands; it?s all taken care of by the city.

?I would like to get another five houses to meet the all eight (the grant is available for). Our intention is to do all eight,? said Conrad.

Conrad hopes homeowners within the target area will take advantage of such a great opportunity.

?It enhances each individual?s property, it?s a reflection on the community as a whole and it?s a way to get help without the cost involved, which is usually the most prohibiting thing. ?

Applications for the grant are available at City Hall, through SEIRPC or online.

?We encourage you to apply. City staff is willing to help you with any aspect of the process,? said Conrad.