Columbus Consolidated Government
Land Bank Authority
Board Meeting Minutes
September 4, 2013
10:00 a.m.
A meeting of the Land Bank Authority Board was held on September 4, 2013 in the
First Floor Conference Room at the CCG Annex Building.
Members Present: Justin Krieg Lance Hemmings
Carson Cummings Susan Cooper
Absent: Thomas Gristina Tammy Mayer
Steve Anthony
Also Present: Deborah Meadows Lenora Smith
Call to Order/Establish Quorum
Board Chair Justin Krieg called the meeting to order. A quorum was present.
Approval of Minutes June 2013
Board Member Lance Cummings made a motion to approve the July 2013 and August
2013 Minutes as presented. Board Member Carson Cummings seconded the motion.
The motion passed.
5836 Pratt Avenue
? Offer
The property was listed with Kelly Williams Realty and Claire Berry is the
agent the Land Bank Authority is working with. After assessing the property and
other property values in the area, a listing price of $30,000 was agreed upon,
signed by Board Chair Justin Krieg. A cash offer of $25,000 was made and
accepted with contingency that the potential buyer meets the income
restrictions of Housing and Urban Development. The buyer is a legal
non-resident alien and the City?s Homeland Security Department is in the
process of verifying that information as required by Housing and Urban
Development, before the purchase can be completed .
Discussion ensued on placing a Security Deed on the property with a 2 year
affordability period. Previously, Amy Carbajal instructed Lenora Smith to place
the Security Deed on the property once a qualified buyer has made the purchase.
Lenora Smith brought up the question of who should be filing the Security
Deed(s) on properties and told the Board that she is not comfortable with
filing Security Deeds with the City on any properties, saying she has never
done that before. She expressed resistance to taking on the task, stating that
CDBG properties have specific restrictions. Board Chair Justin Krieg commented
that we could have Attorney Jacob Beil file the Security Deed(s) for a legal
fee of approximately $500.00 per filing.
Land Bank Authority Board Meeting
September 4, 2013
Page 2
? Adjacent Property
Board Chair Justin Krieg mentioned another house adjacent to the current house
owned by the Land Bank Authority on Pratt Avenue. He said the house has been
abandoned since approximately 2009. He did research and found the owner is
apparently in the military and lives in the Phenix City, AL area. Several
attempts have been made by Board Chair Justin Krieg to contact the owner to
discuss an interest by the Land Bank Authority to purchase the home. If the
Land Bank Authority were able to acquire the property, it would be another
improvement to that neighborhood along with the current one being sold.
East Highlands Properties
Habitat for Humanity is beginning it?s Summer build. The slab is down and they
are starting on the walls. Board Chair Justin Krieg said there is a property
left to a man by his deceased grandmother, that backs up to an apartment
complex in the area and thought it would be a good opportunity for the Land
Bank Authority to try to get involved in getting the property for Habitat for
Humanity.
? School Connection (Haanan School)
Board Member Lance Hemmings talked to Teresa Whitaker, Principal of Haanan
School about the 2 or 3 properties that the School District owns which backs up
to the school. She likes the idea of a gate being place there to allow the
children access to the neighborhood behind the school. The next step is to take
it before the Muscogee County School District Board to get the property
transfer approved. Lance Hemmings said he would find out who the MCSD
representative is for that area. A property map will be needed from Amy
Carbajal for Lance Hemmings to forward to Teresa Whitaker. Board Chair Justin
Krieg will get the property address(s) to Amy Carbajal to have the maps done by
the City?s GIS department.
Old/New Business
The subject of the Tax Delinquent list was brought up. The Land Bank Authority
still has not received a copy of the tax delinquent properties asked for in the
Beallwood and East Highlands area. There was a Tax Sale last week.
Board Member Lance Hemmings brought forth an idea of the Land Bank Authority
possibly purchasing some of the delinquent tax liens using the In-Rem
Foreclosure process to encourage paying the back taxes on the properties. He
said many lien holders and mortgage companies do not want to lose their
investment and will come forward to bring the taxes current. This would be a
good source of revenue for the City, as well as the Land Bank Authority. The
State of Georgia allows 6.5% interest on the lien, which could generate some
income for the Land Bank when the property is sold, while at the same time
bring immediate revenue to the City.
Land Bank Authority Board Meeting
September 4, 2013
Page 3
Board Chair Justin Krieg feels the Board should make another attempt to get the
Tax Commissioner to come to a Land Bank Board Meeting. Justin will invite her
to the next meeting on October 2nd.
The next Land Bank Authority Board Meeting will be on Wednesday, October 2,
2013 at 10:00 a.m., in the Deputy City Manager?s Conference Room, Annex
Building, 2nd floor.
Adjourn
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
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