Will County Executive Committee approves resolution to create county land bank

Will County's Executive Committee on Wednesday approved Resolution 26-4979 to establish a county land bank, a public entity the county says is intended to help municipalities clean up blighted and underused properties and return them to productive use.

Doug Prior, a presenter from the county's Community and Economic Development (CED) staff, told the committee the land bank is a state-authorized tool designed to acquire select low-equity or problem properties with the express consent of the municipality where the parcel sits. Prior said the goal is to resolve title and back-tax issues, address environmental constraints where needed and assemble parcels strategically for redevelopment or transfer back to municipalities or responsible private developers.

Prior said the board structure in the proposed ordinance would include county representation (the county executive, treasurer and a county board designee or their appointees), one representative for each participating municipality and several expert or at-large seats (real estate, finance, economic development and community organizations). He said the land bank would be governed by its own board and required to follow public-reporting and audit rules that apply to public entities.

Committee members asked who would control funds and how acquisitions and dispositions would work. Prior said the land bank entity, not the CED, would oversee funds and that state law requires public transparency and auditability. He said acquisitions could occur through municipal transfers, gifts, purchases or negotiated agreements; the land bank would not operate as a general foreclosure engine and would generally avoid bidding against private buyers at tax auctions.

Members pressed for guardrails: who selects board members, how conflict-of-interest provisions would be enforced, whether the county would be asked for ongoing funding and what protections exist for property owners and taxpayers. Prior and Hugh O'Hare of the Will County Governmental League told the committee the proposed ordinance borrows heavily from other Illinois land banks and includes conflict-of-interest language, procurement rules and termination clauses. Prior said his office envisions the land bank starting small and hiring an outside administrator or part-time professional as needed.

The committee also discussed funding. Prior identified approximately $1 million of expiring ARPA funds as seed money; he characterized that amount as a modest start but sufficient to begin operations. Members asked whether future recurring costs would be required; Prior said those decisions would come later and could include member municipality contributions if the land bank proves successful.

After extended discussion and several amendments clarifying member designations and adding the Will County Governmental League to the proposed board structure, the committee voted to approve the resolution as amended. Chair Vanine said the full county board will receive the amended resolution for final action.

What happens next: the land bank ordinance will go to the full county board for consideration. Prior said CED will work with municipalities on intergovernmental agreements and that the land bank will list all properties under its control publicly and follow the state's reporting and procurement rules.