Mercer Countians filing deeds and mortgages have been paying into a fund set aside for housing projects since Oct. 1.

With about $140,000 collected, Mercer County commissioners decided it was time to appoint the 13 members of the Mercer County Affordable Housing Fund Board.

The board members will recommend projects for funding to the commissioners.

The Recorder of Deeds office collects $11.50 on each deed and mortgage filed for the fund.

The money will be available for housing projects aimed at families who earn under the county's family median income of $41,776.

The state law that allows the program is "very open" on how the money could be used, said Dennis Puko, executive director of Mercer County Regional Planning Commission.

Grants and loans could be given for projects such as home renovations, down payments on home purchases, multi-home new housing construction projects for low- and moderate-income homebuyers, and classes for first-time homebuyers.

Although Puko did not rule out using the fund for rental housing projects, Commissioner Olivia M. Lazor said she wants to encourage home ownership.

"People take pride in owning their own home," she said.

Puko said the money could be used to leverage state and federal funds for projects, and hopes the fund will encourage towns to undertake homebuilding projects, such as what Wheatland has done.

"There are a number of municipalities with a number of vacant lots in their towns and would like to have those vacancies filled," he said.

The amount of money the deed and mortgage fee will raise annually will fluctuate.

"It depends on the mortgage rates, quite frankly," said Mrs. Lazor, noting that low interest rates have brought in a "flood" of refinanced mortgages in the past year.

The fund also allows the county to apply for state Brownfields for Housing Initiative money. The county received $80,000 this year and used it to help with the costs of Mercer County Community Action Agency to build housing for 10 apartments for low-income people with chronic mental illness in Farrell, Mercer County Housing Coalition to build a homeless shelter in Sharon, and Mercer County Housing Authority to build 10 units of senior housing in Mercer.

Appointed to the board for one-year terms were: Sister Clare Marie Beichner, executive director of the Prince of Peace Center, Farrell; L. DeWitt Boosel, executive director of Mercer County Housing Authority; Randy L. Riddle of Grove City; Debra Musial of Sharon; Jim Miale of First National Bank of Pennsylvania; and Dr. Joyce M. Cuff, assistant dean of Thiel College, Greenville.

Appointed to two-year terms were: Ron Errett, executive director of Mercer County Community Action Agency; Sharon Mayor Dave Ryan; R. Glenn Adams of Otter Creek Township; Bob Siegfried of Pine Township; Pamela Prince of Sharon; Donald A. Koontz of Fairview Township; and Thomas Fiscus of National Fuel.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot at

jpinchot@sharonherald.com