Erie County corrects tax-exoneration error for land bank parcel; new land bank director attends meeting

Erie County council members discussed an amendment to a resolution that had inadvertently applied a tax exoneration to the wrong property address. Jeremy Blazer, who identified himself as the new executive director of the Erie County Land Bank (started Jan. 1), told the council the error appeared to be typographical and that the land bank still holds the parcel while awaiting the corrected paperwork.

“This is a property in Cory that we're just trying to get taxes exonerated so that we can get it back on a tax roll,” Jeremy Blazer said. He told council members the demolition has already been completed and that adjacent neighbors have shown interest in the resulting vacant lot, which the land bank intends to transfer to them once the exoneration is corrected.

Council members said the ordinance was signed by the council but did not make its way promptly to the land bank office; one member said all ordinances had been sent except for this one because of the incorrect address. Council staff confirmed the parcel shared the same index number but a wrong street address was recorded, creating the administrative error. No party disputed that the intent was to exonerate taxes for the demolished parcel and return it to productive use.

What happens next: County staff will correct the resolution/address so the land bank can proceed with the transfer to the interested neighbors. Jeremy Blazer attended to introduce himself to the council and offer background on the property and the land bank’s process.