Potential amendments to municipal loan process

St. Joseph County officials are expected to approve a few amendments to their municipal loan fund process.
County administrator Pat Yoder said the matter arose through discussions with various townships. One in particular is looking into the purchase of a fire truck, an expense projected to be about $500,000. The township, Yoder said, has saved $100,000 and it will likely apply for the balance.
Yoder suggested a change to the loan-application wording, a portion of which reads:  “The maximum amount of a loan shall not exceed $500,000 or 25 percent of the project cost, whichever is less.”
Yoder said according to that stipulation, the county would be able to loan no more than $125,000. He suggested the commission revise the wording to read: “Maximum amount of loan shall not exceed $500,000 and final funding (amount) is up to commissioners.”
The issue was covered during last week’s executive committee meeting and will appear on Tuesday’s county commission meeting agenda.
He did not identify the township contemplating the fire truck purchase, as the matter has not yet been formally discussed by its board members.