67.1612.  Powers and duties. — The duties and functions of the governing commission of a home equity program shall include the following:

  (1)  To select an administrator to conduct or supervise the day-to-day operation of the program, including but not limited to the administration of homeowner applications for participation in the program and homeowner claims against the guarantee fund;

  (2)  To establish policies, rules, regulations, bylaws, and procedures for both the governing commission and the program.  No policies, rules, regulations, or bylaws shall be adopted by the governing commission without prior notice to the residents of the area of a program and an opportunity for such residents to be heard;

  (3)  To provide annual status reports on the program to the governing body of the municipality or county;

  (4)  To establish guaranteed value standards which are directly linked to the program appraisal, to approve guaranteed^* values, and to establish requirements for program appraisers consistent with subdivision (16) of section 67.1600.  In no event shall the program guidelines adopted by the governing commission provide for selecting appraisers based on criteria other than the quality and timeliness of the appraisals provided to the governing commission;

  (5)  To manage, administer, and invest the guarantee fund under the supervision of the local governing body;

  (6)  To liquidate acquired assets to maintain the guarantee fund;

  (7)  To participate in arbitration required pursuant to the program, including gathering information from all necessary persons, parties, or documents required to proceed with such arbitration;

  (8)  To employ necessary personnel, acquire necessary office space, enter into contractual relationships and disburse funds pursuant to sections 67.1600 to 67.1663; and

  (9)  To perform such other functions in connection with the program and the guarantee fund as required pursuant to sections 67.1600 to 67.1663.