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Macomb council to consider joining Prairie Hills land bank after Prairie Hills cites $1.2M EPA grant
Summary
Council heard a presentation from Prairie Hills executive director Vicky Livingston about joining the new Prairie Hills Land Bank Authority, which the presenter said can hold and rehabilitate tax-delinquent and blighted properties; staff recommended placing an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) on next Monday’s council agenda.
The Macomb City Council Committee of the Whole on Monday heard a presentation on joining the Prairie Hills Land Bank Authority and agreed to place an intergovernmental agreement on next Monday’s regular meeting for formal consideration. Scott (city staff) introduced the item and turned the floor over to Vicky Livingston, executive director of Prairie Hills.
"I'm Vicky Livingston, the executive director at Prairie Hills," Livingston said, outlining Prairie Hills’ programs, including a Brownfields program and small-business loans. She said Prairie Hills can perform site assessments and help manage issues tied to absentee or out-of-state landowners, tax liens and properties that repeatedly change hands at county tax sale. Livingston said the land bank can hold property temporarily while problems are resolved and then return it to private ownership.
Livingston told the committee Prairie Hills recently received a new EPA grant of $1,200,000 spread over four years and said some of those funds could support land‑bank activities. City staff and the presenter said participation would position Macomb to apply for state and federal funding and pair local contributions with grant dollars.
Alderman Vazquezi asked whether Prairie Hills would perform cleanup or abatement and where project funds would come from; Livingston said operational funds and project dollars could come from a mix of Prairie Hills’ grants, community contributions and traditional state programs, and that some state housing authorities historically direct funds to land banks first. Councilmember Dave Dorsett asked about representation on the land bank board; staff said options include a mix of administration, staff and council representation.
The chair said the administration supports the partnership and will place the draft IGA on next Monday’s council meeting for consideration. No formal vote on the IGA occurred at the committee meeting.
Next step: the IGA will return to the council for formal action at the next regular meeting.
