Geared to clear out area eyesores

The county’s land bank designed to demolish eyesores and abandoned properties has received the approval of the state.

“We just got incorporated from the state,” Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Burcham said.

The next step is for the statutory members to have their first organizational meeting, which will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the conference room on the second floor of the courthouse.

“The meeting is open and we encourage anybody who is interested in learning about the land bank,” Burcham said.

Members of the land bank are Burcham, who is by law the chair, two county commissioners, Ironton Mayor Katrina Keith and an Upper Township Trustee. The commission has not chosen who will serve.

“We will elect a chairman and vice chairman,” Burcham said. “ The board will learn about a land bank. It will be an educational process, set a vision and goals and discuss the organization, operation and funding of a land bank.”

Right now there is close to $60 million available across the state that could be used for demolition projects.