Schuylkill Community Action’s director of housing Jeffrey A. Feeser presented to county commissioners this week the Schuylkill County Affordable Housing Trust Fund’s 2017 annual report.

The fund was established by county commissioners in 1996.

Since then, more than $5.4 million in affordable trust funds have been collected by the Recorder of Deeds office foraffordable housing programs.

The funds are used for “any program or project approved by the county commissioners, which increases the availability of quality housing, either sales or rental, to any county resident whose annual income is less than the median income of the county,” Feeser said.

More than 5,000 county residents have benefited from the program since 2000, he said.

This year, there will be $181,241 available in trust to be awarded, Feeser said.

Public defender

In other matters, the salary board approved wages for part-time public defender William Burke of Port Carbon. He’ll earn $35,116.37 annually.

Commissioner Gary J. Hess voted against Burke’s appointment, saying he holds other county solicitor positions.

Commissioners also welcomed new Deputy Treasurer Nea Griffin, who started work Monday. Griffin has extensive experience in the banking industry, said Treasurer Linda L. Marchalk.

Griffin’s predecessor, Diana D. Bashinsky, resigned earlier this month to work in the state attorney general’s office.