By Staff
CASSOPOLIS – Cass County Treasurer Linda Irwin and Deputy Treasurer Diane Klapchuk attended the 2008 Land Bank Conference in Flint.
The conference took place June 4 and June 5.
Topics discussed were Land Bank authorities, tax foreclosure reform and vacant and abandoned property issues.
Keynote speaker Steve Tobocman, Majority Floor Leader and State Representative, discussed economic development, neighborhood blight, affordable housing and the opportunities a land bank authority can bring to combat these tribulations affecting every community.
A Land Bank is a public authority created to efficiently acquire, hold, manage and develop tax-foreclosed property, as well as other vacant and abandoned properties.
Currently, there are 10 counties that have created Land Banks within Michigan.
Irwin stated, "Forming a Land Bank will be an important tool to clean up blighted properties within our county.
"It will also give the county the option to partner with others to rehab tax-foreclosed properties and return them to productive use."