Crafton Council votes to join Tricog land bank after public questions and conditions

Crafton Borough Council on Aug. 14 approved a resolution to enter into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement to join the Tricog land bank, a nonprofit regional land bank used by municipalities in the Mon Valley to clear title issues and return tax-delinquent properties to productive use.

The action passed after public comment and extended council discussion about who applies to the land bank, membership costs and safeguards around who ultimately buys rehabilitated properties. Manager (name on record: Manager) told council the borough’s share of membership fees was about $2,700 in 2024 and $2,800 in 2025, and that he estimated annual dues to be about $2,900–$3,000 going forward.

The vote followed questions from residents and council members about the Tricog land bank’s service area and property disposition practices. Resident Greg Wozniak asked, “Should we become a member of the land bank? Who is allowed to make application for a property?” Resident Debbie Reagan said she was “very concerned about us, you know, committing in with these people,” listing neighboring communities the land bank currently serves and asking whether properties are primarily sold to nonprofit developers or owner-occupants.

Manager and other council members said membership gives Crafton a formal seat on the land bank’s selection committee, that the borough would appoint a committee representative, and that the borough retains the ability to remove properties from the suggested list before they are acquired by the land bank. Manager also described that once the land bank purchases a property at sheriff sale it holds title and works to dispose of it quickly because holding costs are a disincentive to long-term retention.

Council members and staff described other safeguards and options: municipalities sit on selection committees and can request clawback provisions or conditions in sale agreements, and councils can withdraw from the intergovernmental agreement in a subsequent vote if they are dissatisfied with outcomes. Manager said roughly 10–20 Crafton properties would be candidates for the land bank list. Council members noted alternatives municipalities use—municipal demolitions and conservatorship procedures—and said the borough can pursue conservatorship for some properties while using the land bank for others.

The resolution passed on a council motion; council did not record a roll-call tally in the public transcript. Councilmembers and staff said the land bank is designed to clear liens and other title encumbrances that can otherwise stall rehabilitation, and that many local governments view land banks as a cost-effective tool to return vacant, tax-delinquent properties to the tax rolls.

The council asked staff to continue monitoring Tricog’s sales practices and to use membership to influence buyer selection and include protections such as clawbacks where appropriate.