SIDNEY — Although it’s less than a year old, the Shelby County Land Reutilization Corporation, or land bank, has a new director.
Fort Loramie resident Doug Ahlers, who is the former president of the Versailles Savings and Loan, assumed the position in early January.
“When I saw the position listed, I saw it as a way to give back to the greater community,” Ahlers said. “The community has given me so much, and it is a way to give back using my extensive background in banking and real estate. Throughout my career, I have worked behind the scenes trying to make communities better. In this position, we have the opportunity to revitalize neighborhoods in Sidney, the villages and unincorporated areas of Shelby County.”
The former Shelby County Auditor and inaugural land bank Director Denny York stepped aside after processing the paperwork establishing the land bank and applying for grant funding from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).
“We applied for a grant in the amount of $500,000. According to OFHA estimates, a grant in that amount would have allowed us to remove 20 blighted homes over a two-year period. We received a grant in the amount of $2.5 million. Again according to their formula, that will allow us to eliminate 100 blighted properties. Certainly we have that many abandoned properties within Shelby County. But, I left office to retire, do some traveling and spend time with my family,” York said. “Acquiring 20 properties in a two-year period and having them demolished would have been an interesting, part-time job. I had no interest in a part-time job that was going to be more full-time than part-time, which acquiring 100 homes and processing them for demolition will certainly be.”
“Once we found out how successful my grant-writing skills turned out to be, I immediately advised Bob (Commissioner Robert Guillozet, who serves as chair of the Shelby County Land Reutilization Board) of my intent to step aside,” York said. “I also told him that I would stay on and work with the land bank’s new director as long as necessary.”
Guillozet said, “The board immediately advertised for the position. We were fortunate that we had a well-qualified group of applicants for Denny’s position. The quality of the applicants made the selection process even more difficult. Since Sidney Mayor Mike Barhorst, who serves as vice chair of the board, has a lot of experience in that area, he conducted the reference checks. Although as I stated, it was a difficult decision, we selected Doug Ahlers as our new director.”
“There is definitely a learning curve,” Ahlers said. “Having Denny available to answer questions has definitely been a plus. In addition, the board’s arrangement with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy for technical assistance has also been helpful.”
“Our biggest challenge will be to have properties acquired and in our name by the upcoming May deadline. Knowing about a property and actually having it in owned by the land bank by the deadline are two different things. Many people to whom I have spoken believe that they no longer own the property because the bank began foreclosure proceedings,” Ahlers continued. “In many cases, the bank dropped the foreclosure action when the owners moved out and the property sits vacant. In some cases, the properties have been vacant for several years.”
“The land bank represents an opportunity to remove blighted, abandoned properties from neighborhoods,” Ahlers said. “It has been my experience that people are reluctant to repair their own homes when it will not add value to the home. Removing blighted homes can begin the process of cleaning up neighborhoods. Once the process starts, it is almost contagious. Everyone else on the block makes improvements to their property and pretty soon, things turn around. That’s what I want to see happen.”
For more information about the land bank, or donating or selling property to the land bank, Ahlers can be reached at 937-498-7253 or [email protected].
