In Lawrence County, Ohio, the county land bank is making a very strong statement with regard to manufactured homes that are delinquent on their taxes.

According to an editorial board letter in the Ironton Tribune, the land bank is looking to clean up abandoned and run-down properties across the county, but a federal rule is in the way.

“There is one area where their hands are tied, and this is on properties with manufactured or mobile homes [sic],” said the letter.

“Roughly 30 percent of all properties in the county and a quarter of those properties targeted by the land bank are categorized as mobile homes [sic], and account for $1 million annually in unpaid property taxes.”

While the land bank can normally proceed with the process of cleanup, rules with regard to manufactured housing throw a wrench into that process.

“Federal rules prohibit the use of federal funds earmarked for land bank demolition to be used on mobile homes [sic], even if they have been modified and attached to a permanent foundation,” said the letter.

Per the Ironton Tribune, former Cleveland City Councilman Jim Rokakis urged the Lawrence County Land Bank to reach out to Ohio senators and urge them to change the restriction.

“As a community, the cleanup of these properties that, in many cases, become havens for squatters or drug activity along with other potential hazards shouldn’t be treated any differently,” the letter said.

“The only way this will change is through legislation at the federal level, and voicing your opinion or asking questions of your legislators is a responsibility we all share as residents.”

 

Officially created in July 2016 with a $4.325 million grant from the Ohio Department of Housing, the Lawrence County Land Bank secured residential and commercial abandoned, dilapidated or tax delinquent properties with the goal of getting them back on the tax rolls.

More coverage on the Lawrence County Land Bank from MHProNews contributor Matthew J. Silver is linked here. ##

 

(Image credits are as shown above.)

 

Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.