By statute, the Land Bank is a very powerful tool; however, the Greene County Commissioners plan to take a targeted approach to specific issues in Greene County. It is true that by statute the Land Bank has the power of eminent domain, but that has been removed from the Greene County draft document; the Commissioners have no intention of applying the use of eminent domain to any property in the Greene County Land Bank.
GENERALLY:
• The Greene County Land Bank is drafted to terminate five years from the date of incorporation, unless extended by a vote of the Board of County Commissioners.
• Greene County Land Bank operations would be managed by the Greene County Department of Development.
• The requesting entity, not the Land Bank, shall bear all costs related to acquisition, transfer and holding of the property.
• Costs for insurance, tax, maintenance, legal fees, transfer fees, etc. shall be assumed by the entity requesting that the land bank process the property.
• Costs borne by the County will be of an administrative nature only.
• Requesting entity must provide a plan for end use of the property prior to the Land Bank acquiring the property.
• The County Treasurer and Land Bank could agree to divert some of the DTAC (Delinquent Tax and Assessment Collection) money to the Land Bank. This would be from the Treasurer’s share, NOT from the political subdivisions.
• The Greene County Land Bank would not have the authority to borrow money nor exercise eminent domain nor condemnation powers.
• The Greene County Land Bank would be limited to holding no more than 20 properties at any one time, limited to holding any one property no more than 180 days, and limited to holding six or less properties per receiving entity at any one time.
• The Greene County Land Bank may contract with the federal, state or any local government, or any other party to carry out any purposes and powers of Land Banks under Chapter 1724 of the Ohio Revised Code.
• The Greene County Land Bank would be able to apply for federal, state and local demolition funds that become available.
• The existing process of waiving taxes does not extinguish them, which makes the property practically unmarketable. The Land Bank would completely extinguish all taxes, making the property marketable once again. This removes the impediments that now prohibit the free market system from putting these properties to work.
• Properties eligible for the Land Bank would have to be at least 18 months tax delinquent and vacant, and must have gone through two Sheriff’s sales.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
• The Greene County Land Bank Board of Directors would make, prescribe and enforce all rules and regulations for conducting business and management/control of properties. They could also employ and provide compensation for an Executive Director.
• The Board of Directors shall be comprised of:
- Greene County Treasurer
- All three County Commissioners
- A representative appointed by the City Council of Beavercreek
• At least one Board of Directors member shall have private sector or nonprofit experience in rehabilitation or real estate acquisitions.
• The number of Board of Directors members may be modified consistent with Section 1724.03 (B) of the Ohio Revised Code.
OFFICERS:
Officers of the Greene County Land Bank would be as follows:
- Chair Person selected from the Board of Directors
- Secretary (Executive Director of the Land Bank/Department of Development Director)
- Treasurer would be the Greene County Treasurer except when County Treasurer serves as Chair Person, then the County Treasurer appoints one of the other Directors as Treasurer in his stead.
MEETINGS:
• The Board of Directors would hold an annual meeting after the close of the fiscal year and at least one meeting each calendar quarter.
• The fiscal year of the Greene County Land Bank would be a calendar year.
• All meetings shall be open to the public per Ohio Sunshine Law.
COMMITTEES:
• The Board of Directors may appoint committees of its members and officers.
• A Project Committee would be established with the following representation:
- All Land Bank Board of Directors
- One City of Fairborn representative (designated by Fairborn City Council)
- One City of Xenia representative (designated by Xenia City Council)
- One Township representative (designated by RPCC of Greene County)
- One representative from the balance of political subdivisions in the County (designated by RPCC of Greene County)
• The Project Committee would vote on all projects presented to the Land Bank and make recommendations to the Board for decision.
• Project Committee members would not be permitted to vote on projects within the city, township or village they represent in their professional capacity. The County Commissioners and County Treasurer would be permitted to vote on all projects, regardless of the jurisdiction in which they are located.