Council discusses acquiring Clay Street mobile-home site via land bank; agrees to pursue title work, no final vote

Galion city leaders told the council that a final forfeiture entry has been signed for a Clay Street mobile-home property and that the land could be transferred to the county land bank, which could then convey clean title to the city. Law Director Bair said the forfeiture order was signed April 15 and that the document does not include the trailers on the property; the property is subject to existing liens and mortgages, and the city cannot prudently take title without the land bank or an auditor's forfeited-land sale process.

Mayor and staff outlined two paths: ask the land bank to accept the property and obtain clear title on the city's behalf, or let the property go to the auditor's forfeited-land sale, where it could be bid on by third parties. Council and staff warned that the auditor sale…