The new year is expected to see several blight removal projects around Clinton County, a consequence of this year’s startup of a local land bank and a recent award of up to $1 million to fulfill its purpose.

That purpose is to clean up blighted residential properties, clearing the way for the land to be re-utilized. The properties typically are heavily tax delinquent or have assessments against them.

“I think we will have our first acquisitions in the coming weeks and should see several blight removal projects in 2017,” said Clinton County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) Executive Director Taylor Stuckert, who is administering the land bank at this time.

The land bank will be reimbursed for the costs of acquiring, demolishing and “greening” of vacant and blighted residential structures, said Stuckert.

“Since the funds are aimed at preventing foreclosures and stabilizing local property values, funds are targeted specifically at structures negatively affecting neighboring properties, rather than say a blighted home sitting on a rural lot with no nearby neighbors,” he said.

Currently, the land bank’s board members are focused on meeting program deadlines so they’re able to utilize the full amount of funds the county was awarded, according to Stuckert.

“At this moment, that primarily entails [the land bank board] focusing on acquiring the worst of the worst properties that can be most easily acquired and cleaned up,” Stuckert added.

The land bank identified in this round of funding 40 potential properties that need to be addressed, he said.

The county’s RPC called upon local mayors, building and zoning departments, township trustees and others to create the inventory of properties.

“In my role with the RPC, I have observed abandoned and blighted properties and/or heard complaints about blight in just about every corner of the county,” said Stuckert. “Many citizens and property owners are negatively affected by this blight, whether it be through the attraction of criminal activity or directly affecting property values.

“Cleaning it up is necessary and we have a unique opportunity and the resources needed to take out a big chunk of the problem properties,” Stuckert stated.

The funds originate with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and are awarded to states as part of the Hardest Hit Fund program. In Ohio, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency is responsible for these funds and awards them directly to county land banks.

A land bank is a private, non-profit corporation.

A land bank is capable of removing tax liens on a property, and then sell it to a new property owner, Stuckert said previously.

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.