Land Bank Authority
Board Meeting Minutes
September 2, 2015
10:00 a.m.
A meeting of the Land Bank Authority Board was held on September 2, 2015, in
the Conference Room at the Land Bank Authority?s office located at 18 Eleventh
Street, Columbus, Georgia.
Members Present: Lance Hemmings Carson Cummings Justin Krieg
Steve Anthony Patrick Coleman Brad Dodds
Members Excused: Anne Hanna Merritt
Also Present: Laura McCool, Community Reinvestment Liaison
Rhonda Walters, Staff
Call to Order/Establish a Quorum
Board Chair Lance Hemmings called the meeting to order. A quorum was present.
Approval of Minutes
A motion to approve the minutes from the Board meeting on July 1, 2015, was
made by Justin Krieg. The motion was seconded by Patrick Coleman. The motion
passed.
Operational Items
Financial Update
Approximately $44,300 remains in the account. No account activity occurred.
Certificate of Incumbency and Authority
Fully endorsed copies will be made available as needed for property transfer
transactions.
Business Items
Property Updates
o 2235 Cornell Avenue
Carson Cummings contacted Jackie Leonard, Solid Source Realty. She researched
comparable sales to determine potential lot value. Carson will work with Lance
Hemmings to complete a listing agreement with Ms. Leonard on behalf of the LBA.
Justin Krieg will follow-up with Betty Middleton regarding the property tax
bill received for the Cornell property. The lot should have a tax exempt status
similar to the other LBA properties.
o LBA Property in East Highlands
The LBA owns five lots in the neighborhood. All are undersized lots with
limited development potential. Columbus Habitat owns several adjacent lots and
may be interested in acquiring these properties as well.
Rhonda Walters followed-up with Louise Hurless (ED, Columbus Habitat) regarding
a possible land swap. Habitat would like to swap two lots they own at 1349 24th
St and 2401 14th Ave for two LBA lots at 2417 & 2419 14th Ave. These new lots
could be replatted to give Habitat another buildable lot near other new houses
they are building in the neighborhood. Rhonda will contact Louise to ask that
their attorney proceed with the proposed land swap.
Lance Hemmings reported that he spoke with Kia Chambers, MCSD Board member,
regarding the possible donation of two lots adjacent to Hannan Elementary. She
agreed to help facilitate the donation. Lance will follow-up once the swap with
Habitat has been completed. With the addition of those two lots, MCSD will own
all the lots fronting on 24th St adjacent to the elementary.
Habitat may be interested in acquiring other lots in the neighborhood from the
LBA as well. Their Property Committee is determining how to proceed.
Dottie Johnson called to inquire if the LBA would be interested in selling 1512
24th St. She lives in Tennessee and inherited the property at 1514 24th St. She
is considering selling her land (a vacant lot) but may be interested in
purchasing the LBA lot to increase the marketability of her property. Both lots
are narrow and undersized. She would like to know the price of the lot. The LBA
rate is $.50/sq ft which brings the price to $1668 plus closing costs. Rhonda
Walters will contact Ms. Johnson to let her know the price.
Habitat may also be interested in both of these lots and plans to contact Ms.
Johnson soon. Ms. Johnson mentioned that she had donated property to them in
the past and may consider that as an option for this lot as well.
o 2406 Winchester
Justin Krieg contacted the Tax Commissioner?s Office to indicate the LBA?s
interest in pursuing acquisition through In Rem Foreclosure. The property will
be added to the list being prepared for possible inclusion in the next tax sale
in November.
o Possible Transfer of Property List from NWC to LBA
Discussion continued regarding the request by NeighborWorks Columbus (NWC) for
the possible transfer of property in their inventory to the LBA until such time
as NWC may be able to develop it. Rhonda Walters contacted Jacob Beil?s office
to obtain a copy of the draft agreement from 2011 that addressed this issue and
forwarded it to the Board. Most felt the agreement would still be viable. Brad
Dodds and Patrick Coleman agreed to review the agreement once more. Brad Dodds
made a motion to proceed with NWC?s request to transfer the properties to the
LBA. Patrick Coleman seconded the motion. Justin Krieg abstained from voting
due to his role on NWC?s Board. The motion passed. Rhonda Walters will update
David Fox (NWC).
Items regarding the Tax Commissioner?s Office
Discussion continued regarding various items that involve the Tax
Commissioner?s Office.
Ordinance No. 12-40 ? This ordinance reserves a portion of the taxes collected
for a period of 5 years on property conveyed by the LBA for the LBA?s use to
defray expenses. A total of five properties have been sold by the LBA since the
ordinance was adopted on August 28, 2012. Justin Krieg submitted this
information to the Tax Commissioner?s Office in July and will continue to
pursue the recapture of these funds as specified in the ordinance.
New Business
The Georgia Association of Land Bank Authorities held a meeting in Columbus in
July. A link to the meeting materials was forwarded to all Board members.
Another meeting may be scheduled in Augusta later this year.
Donny Kent, Web Development manager with the City, recently completed updates
to the LBA?s webpage. ( http://www.columbusga.org/CLBA/CLBA.htm ) He did a
great job.
Possible grant opportunities were discussed. Laura McCool gave a brief
explanation of the application process that will occur later this year
regarding CDBG funds and agreed to keep the LBA informed. Other grant
opportunities can also be researched.
Next Meeting
The next Land Bank Authority Board Meeting will be on Wednesday, October 7th,
2015.
Adjourn
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Attachments
No attachments for this document.