The Washington County Commission approved the land-reutilization corporation resolution for the county in accordance with Ohio Revised Code on July 31.

The resolution established the authority for the county to appoint a land bank council who will oversee any decisions made for the utilization of reclaimed properties in Washington County.

Commissioner Charlie Schilling said Ohio Revised Code states that they can elect five to seven individuals for the council. He said it will consist of two commissioners, the county treasurer, an individual from a municipality (Marietta), and an individual from a township (Muskingum).

“This is a tool for us to reclaim a property that’s not paying property tax,” said Schilling. “And it’s not about seizing the property for the county.”

Effective July 31, Washington County is established as a land bank association which is a tool the county can use to gain money that’s being lost by unpaid property taxes on vacant or abandoned lots.

The purpose of a land bank is to convert vacant, abandoned, and tax delinquent lots into productive use. Once rehabilitated, the property undergoes transference to homeowners or developers.

According to the Ohio Land Bank Association, land banks aren’t used to pursue tax foreclosures but rather are a way to address vacant or environmentally unsafe properties that can be utilized or placed into inventory until use.

Schilling said the property is likely to be used for the future foundation of single-family housing or apartments.

“The county doesn’t collect nearly $6 million in property tax delinquencies,” said Schilling. Properties that are tax delinquencies have either been vacant or the land owners aren’t paying for the land for a variety of reasons.

Schilling said the process is extensive and the property goes through multiple evaluations and is on tax sale twice before it’s acquired by the land bank.

Land owners have years of opportunity to pay for the property on the tax sale or tie any loose ends before it’s introduced to the land bank.

President and CEO of Southeastern Ohio Port Authority Jesse Roush said land banks are unique because they can acquire vacant, environmentally unstable properties without being held liable for the status of the land.

“This allows for land banks to help clean up unused properties because they aren’t held liable if it was previously ruined,” said Roush, citing impacted lots such as Brownfields as an example.

Some companies won’t try to purchase land that has little to no market value but land banks can convert the undesirable land into donated municipality space, according to the Ohio Land Bank Association.

“This is a big step forward for the county,” said Roush. “This is the best time for it because funding for land banks is at an all time high.”

Schilling and Roush both mentioned the success Monroe County had as a land bank association and it proved that a step needed to be taken for Washington County.

“It really gives the county the opportunity to bring these properties to life,” said Schilling. “Schools and government entities will benefit as well.”

For more information and history about land banks, check out www.ohiolandbanks.org.