Officials invited to land bank meeting

FINDLAY—Almost every elected Findlay official received an email invitation to a land bank meeting to be held on Monday, but the city has not issued a public meeting notice so far. The "Land Bank Informational Presentation" will be held at 9 a.m. Monday at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1050 Interstate Drive West, and it is open to the public. The Courier received a tip about the meeting on Friday and contacted the mayor's office. On Tuesday, the newspaper received a reply from Mayor Christina Muryn with a legal opinion given by Law Director Robert Feighner Jr. Feighner said compliance with Ohio's Open Meetings Act isn't necessary for the meeting. "As long as the session is informational in nature and it is not for the purpose of taking official action or deliberating on official business, it is fine. A 'meeting' that would trigger compliance with the Open Meeting Act is defined as any prearranged discussion of public business of a public body by a majority of its members," said Feighner. "My understanding is that business is not/should not be discussed and that the purpose is to learn more about the pros and cons of land bank use in Ohio." Feighner said he provided the opinion at the request of some city officials, including Auditor Jim Staschiak, who was quick to question the legality of the meeting. Feighner emailed the opinion to most city and county elected officials on April 21. Along with open public meetings, the law also requires government bodies to issue notice to the public and to keep minutes. Muryn said Feighner and a land bank attorney will be in attendance on Monday to make sure there is no violation of the Open Meetings Act. The invitation was extended by Chris Keller, executive director of Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development, and sent to elected officials, including all three Hancock County commissioners, on April 17. Keller said David Mann and Josh Murnen from the Lucas County Land Bank will give the presentation. Land banks are a controversial topic in Hancock County, with the debate over their use dating back at least 15 years. In January 2023, language that included the pursuit of a land bank in Hancock County was struck from Findlay's strategic plan after the Findlay Area Apartment Association protested. Language that called for the creation of a landlord and abandoned property registry, the creation of a "Blue Ribbon" rental housing designation for properties near the University of Findlay, and the adoption of the State of Ohio's recommended residential housing code was also pulled from the plan due to the backlash. A housing assessment study completed in 2020 by the Hancock Regional Planning Commission recommended land banks as a tool for Hancock County. Land banks can seize abandoned, "distressed" properties and clean them up, then sell or otherwise dispose of the property without having to sell it at public auction, which is normally the rule with public property in Ohio. Most of Ohio's counties operate land banks. Land banks can also provide municipalities with protection against the liabilities involved with cleaning up polluted property.