Ross County Land Bank confronts clouded titles, tables sale and approves $6,900 planning engagement

Ross County’s Land Bank on May 15 discussed a cluster of properties with title problems stemming from irregular sheriff-sale timing and agreed to seek outside legal advice before selling several parcels.

Staff told the board that title searches on land-bank properties revealed defects because some sheriff sales did not meet the statutory timing requirements, leaving a “cloud” on titles. Two paths were discussed: reopen foreclosure cases and re-run sheriff sales (a process that could take six months to more than a year) or pursue quiet-title litigation. Legal counsel recommended hiring outside attorneys to advise on the best path to clear titles; commissioners and staff agreed to pursue outside counsel to resolve the priority parcels.

One property, 388 East Second Street, drew particular attention after a neighboring owner offered $1,000 plus closing to purchase the vacated lot as a side yard. Trisha explained the parcel’s title is unclear; the listed price on the land bank inventory is $7,130 and the appraised land value was discussed as about $6,000. Commissioners expressed concern about process consistency if they accept below-appraisal offers, and they asked staff to obtain legal advice and to develop a policy for handling offers that are below appraised value. The board tabled final approval of the sale until the title issue and policy are resolved.

Separately, the board approved a lower-cost consultant option from GOPC for strategic planning and guidance, budgeted at $6,900. The motion to enter the engagement passed after a second; one board member abstained.

Board members said many of the land-bank parcels were prioritized because they produce recurrent nuisance problems; staff noted clearing title is a necessary step so properties can be sold or repurposed. No sales were completed at the meeting; staff were directed to obtain legal guidance and to draft a process for considering below-appraised offers.