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WEIRTON -- The City of Weirton may soon begin the process of establishing its own land bank.
The issue was raised by Ward 4 Councilman George Ash during Monday's Weirton Council meeting.
"I'm not sure how it works," Ash said, suggesting the city begin to look into the process.
Land banks traditionally are governmental entities or nonprofit corporations focused on converting vacant, abandoned or tax delinquent properties for productive use. Land banks are able to acquire the titles to these properties, eliminating whatever liabilities they may have and transferring the properties to new owners.
They often are used in efforts to eliminate blight in a community.
Mayor Harold Miller noted he and City Manager Travis Blosser have had conversations with other officials through the West Virginia Municipal League. The City of Huntington, in recent years, enacted its own land bank program, he said.
"I think it's a great idea," Miller said.
Blosser said the city could speak with other municipalities to see how their land banks were formed and are operated, and see if such a project would be feasible in Weirton.
Huntington's land bank was established through the city's Urban Renewal Authority.
A land bank was established in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 2014, through which 20 structures were demolished in 2016, and 41 so far this year.
Plans include property rehabilitation at some sites next year.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)