Low interest loans to replace non-compliant SSTS

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

The Minnesota Clean Water Partnership (CWP) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) have awarded Otter Tail County with a grant to provide low interest loans to property owners to replace non-compliant subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS). 

“Otter Tail County serves as the lender,” said County Land and Resource Management Director Chris LeClair to members of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday morning, Jan. 23.

SSTS replacement and/or repair must result in a water quality improvement. In the event of limited funds, the county may award higher priority replacements first.

“We in county government, with these loans, want to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” LeClair said.

Interested property owners can submit an SSTS Financial Assistance Application to the Otter Tail County Land and Resource Management office. The application is available at the Land and Resource Management website at https://ottertailcountymn.us/department/land-resource-management/

Applicants must follow the application checklist at the end of the document and submit all required materials to the county Land and Resource Management Office, Government Services Center, 515 West Fir Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN 56537.

“Providing a complete application and all supporting documentation at once will ensure a quick turnaround of your request for financial assistance,” LeClair said.

After the county receives and reviews all materials for eligibility, Otter Tail County Land and Resource Management will approve loans on a first-come and first-serve basis, as long as funds are available. Loan payments are set up as a special assessment on a resident’s property taxes.

Contact Sheila Dahl with application questions: (218) 998-8098.

Call Land and Resource Management with questions about your SSTS: (218) 998-8095.