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Land bank adopts its own purchasing policy to speed contracts; board requires notification for under‑$1M and full approval above $1M
Summary
The Van Buren County Land Bank Authority adopted its own purchasing policy to speed grant‑funded projects; the Board approved a compromise requiring notification for land‑bank contracts under $1,000,000 and full board approval for contracts above $1,000,000.
The Van Buren County Land Bank Authority presented a separate purchasing policy intended to speed contracting on grant‑funded projects, and the Board of Commissioners agreed to allow the land bank to approve contracts under $1,000,000 with subsequent notification to the board and to require Board approval for contracts exceeding $1,000,000.
Lizzo Ransler, a land‑bank representative, told commissioners the land bank is required by the state to adopt its own purchasing policy because it has received state grants and the state required the land bank to be in compliance with a standalone policy. She said adopting the county purchasing policy in full would delay land‑bank work by requiring contracts to pass through the land bank, the Committee of the Whole and the full board — a process that could add several weeks to time‑sensitive projects.
“Because of this, they have asked us to adopt our own policy that is basically the same with the exception. It does not bring it to the, county commission,” Ransler said. The land bank’s policy retains standard purchasing controls — sealed bids or competitive quotes for large procurements — and conflict‑of‑interest safeguards.
Commissioners and land‑bank leaders discussed a large, active grant: a $3,000,000 state land‑bank award focused on property remediation and redevelopment that must be executed under a state timeline. The land bank said several contracts for remediation and asbestos removal are anticipated and that delays could jeopardize grant funds. Because of that timeline, staff proposed approving the land bank’s policy but building in a notification requirement and a $1,000,000 threshold for Board approval.
The board amended and approved the land‑bank policy, instructing the land bank to notify the Board of Commissioners of contracts under $1,000,000 and to bring contracts above that threshold to the full board for approval. Ransler said many of the current contracts are in the $200,000 range, with future construction contracts expected to be substantially larger. She also said the land bank’s grant contract requires that some approvals be retroactive to the grant’s start; the Board accepted retroactivity for items back to February 2024 where necessary to comply with the state grant requirements.
The board and land bank agreed to revisit the policy if implementation showed problems or delays.
