Before Monday night’s meeting ended, Richwood Village councilman Von Beal asked village solicitor Alison Boggs “How long does it take to get a certified delinquent property foreclosed, sold at sheriff’s auction and be done with it?”
Beal said that he has done extensive research on two properties on East Blagrove Street that the Union County Auditor has certified as delinquent properties back in 2011. After they have been declared delinquent for two years of back taxes, he assumed that the properties would go on the sheriff’s auction to be sold.
“It bothers me that we expand our government,” Beal said. “Instead of selling properties through the foreclosure process, now the government wants the properties to go through the “land bank,” where they can take over the process, raze the property or fix it up to be sold, and make money from the sale that goes to work on another blighted property.”
Council has been discussing blighted properties within the village for years, with no progress made.
Boggs told council that if the property goes to the land bank, the village would not recoup any money for mowing the grass of the properties or for any work they may have done to secure safety of the property.
Council feels as though they are not getting any support from county government in helping clean up the village of blighted properties. Members of council invited county officials to attend a council meeting to explain why these properties have not gone through the sheriff’s auction.
In other business, council;
-Voted on the second reading of the approval to purchase of 3.03 acres at 283 N. Franklin St. from the North Union Schools and easement from North Union Schools, all for the progress of completing the walking path around Richwood Lake.
-Council heard that lift stations at the park are being replaced and rebuilt.
-Learned that a village police officer has moved and his position needs to be replaced.
-Held more discussions regarding people walking their dogs in the beach area and/or swimming in the beach area with the dogs.
-Heard that North Union Schools is unable to help financially to supply a school resource officer.