The Highland County Land Reutilization Corporation (land bank) opened multiple bids at its monthly meeting regarding the demolition of various properties in the county.

The land bank board opened 23 bids for three different bid packages apiece.

The first bid package included 9955 U.S. 62 in Leesburg, 142 N. Fairfield St. in Leesburg and 8151 Fall Creek Rd. in Leesburg.

The second bid package included 3479 Pleasant Rd. in Hillsboro and 6747 Heather Moor Tl. in Hillsboro.

The third bid package included 140 E. North St. in Hillsboro and 212 N. High St. in Hillsboro.

The land bank board approved a special meeting for 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 where the board plans to go through the demolition bids and approve the apparent low bids.

Concerning another bid process, the land bank opened bids for asbestos abatement assessments at four of the seven above properties — 140 E. North St. in Hillsboro, 142 N. Fairfield St. in Leesburg, 212 N. High St. in Hillsboro and 8151 Fall Creek Rd. in Leesburg. The board moved to approve the bid from Industrial Insulation Specialists at $14,700 due to it being the apparent low bidder.

Todd Book, the land bank’s legal counsel, said the land bank is requiring the asbestos assessments be finished by March 29, so the demolition groups have “a little over a month” to finish the process. He said the demolitions can’t start until the asbestos abatement is finished.

The land bank also approved the sale of three Hillsboro lots, with the final results as follows: 453 E. Main St. in Hillsboro to Letcher Langston for $4,750.69; 229 E. South St. in Hillsboro to Charles Gorman for $4,100; and 622 E. South St. in Hillsboro to Charles Gorman for $4,500.

Concerning the Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Grant Program (BDSRGP),The land bank agreed to add six properties to the Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Grant Program — 11884 S.R. 771 in Leesburg; 8531 U.S. 62 north in Hillsboro; 8701 U.S. 62 N. in Hillsboro; 651 Jefferson St. in Greenfield; 131 Huff St. in Leesburg; and the underground storage tank located under 2471 S.R. 138 in Sardinia.

Johansen said the underground storage tank under the Buford school was originally listed under the Brownfield Grant. However, he said Tetra Tech did some assessments and found the tank was only a cistern that held water. He said that because of that from an environmental and cost point of view, it would be good to put in the BDSRGP.

Johansen said 937 N. High St. in Hillsboro has been classified as a “hot” demolition. He said Ohio Technical Services went to do the asbestos survey and it was dangerous to do so, saying abatement would be “near impossible.”

Regarding the Brownfield Grant Program, Johansen said the East Monroe tank farm, located at S.R. 28/Monroe Road in Leesburg, finished its first phase. He said a former gas station, located at 351 E. Main St. in Hillsboro, and a former machine shop, located at 204 E. Jefferson St. in Greenfield, are both finishing up their phase ones. He said Gross-Feibel and Emerson Electric are “on our radar.”

Alisson Young, Tetra Tech representative, said she was at the former Rocky Fork Truck Stop site on Wednesday and Thursday collecting the final round of groundwater samples. She said those samples would be the most current information for the report.

The land bank also gave updates on the following properties:

* For 326 N. East St. in Hillsboro, Book said it would be a possible donation. He said a title search was done and it looks like there was an old mortgage, “but by operation of law, it is extinguished.” He said they just have the back taxes issue and that there was also a land contract that was never released.

* Regarding three Taylor Street properties, Book said the land bank has been looking for a way to alleviate the problems there and have tried avenues with the Highland County Health Department. However, he said the land bank might need to go a different route. He said the properties are a priority.

* Concerning 222 McClain Ave. in Greenfield, Book said Fannie Mae plans to deed it to the land bank. He said Fannie Mae had prepared the deed and that by the next meeting the land bank would “probably” have the property in its name.

* At Russell Street/85 Belfast Pike, Johansen said the owner is trying to sell their father’s estate. There is a small landlocked parcel on the land where the deceased owner built a garage that was also touching the property. Johansen said they’re having trouble selling the property. He said if it was donated to the land bank, the back taxes could be cleared up, and then given back to be sold with the father’s estate.

* Johansen said there is a “very small” vacant lot on Walnut Street measuring 0.06 acres. He said the owner is deceased and the child involved has no intention of doing anything with the property. Johansen said the land bank is looking into seeing what it can do, but that it’s “kind of looking” like it might be a probate court situation.

The next meeting of the land bank is at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 21, 2023 in the basement of the Highland County Administration Building.

Reach Jacob Clary at 937-402-2570.