MANISTEE COUNTY — Manistee County Treasurer Rachel Nelson is speaking out about a case that could have landed before the United States Supreme Court.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge from Chelsea Koetter, a Manistese County homeowner who argued she was shorted more than $100,000 after her home was repossessed and sold.
Michigan courts agreed with Manistee County on the legality of the process before the Koetters made their appeal.
“My office followed the law and the courts confirmed that,” Nelson said.
Nelson also defended Michigan’s foreclosure and excess proceeds system, saying that Manistee residents have largely been able to avoid similar situations.
“Manistee County only foreclosed on four parcels for the last three years. None of those have been parcels with a principal residence, where someone owns and occupies the property,” Nelson said. “And to put that in perspective, Manistee County has about 23,000 parcels. So that’s effectively a 0% foreclosure rate.”
Nelson also says that the county has recently concluded a class-action settlement which concerns foreclosures that happened from 2013 to 2020.
Those funds total around $900,000 and the deadline to apply for them has since passed.
Mansitee County is also holding a show cause hearing on Jan. 29, where those facing foreclosure can discuss the situation with the treasurer’s office.