This derelict property on Main Street in the Reynoldsburg portion of Etna Township is on the Licking County Land Bank's list for demolition soon.
Since its inception five years ago, the Licking County Land Bank has been responsible for demolishing about six-dozen derelict structures.
Some of those have been in the Pataskala area, and another pending demolition this year is located on Main Street in the Reynoldsburg portion of Etna Township.
Those were just some of the facts shared with the Pataskala Area Chamber of Commerce by featured speaker Roy Van Atta, Licking County Land Bank Director.
Van Atta was appointed director in 2015 shortly after the Land Bank formed. Since then, the Land Bank has secured more than $1.4 million in demolition grant dollars.
More than 120 properties have also been turned over to “responsible landowners and back to active tax rolls,” as Chamber President Jeff Rothweiler noted, introducing Van Atta at the Feb. 18 Chamber lunch.
The Land Bank focuses its efforts on vacant, abandoned, or tax delinquent properties throughout Licking County.
To date, most of those efforts have taken place in Newark as described during the luncheon presentation.
By 2019, the majority of Ohio’s 88 counties had established Land Banks in place.
Licking County’s version took control of its first property in spring 2016.
“This can be a bit contentious,” Van Atta said. “I’m a conservative. I don’t want the government getting too involved in the private property sector, so we only go after tax delinquent properties.”
“These are all vacant abandoned homes; we’re not kicking anybody out of their house,” Van Atta said. “We can also accept donations… We’ve had two houses donated. One was in the City of Newark. It was in bad shape from fire. There can also be kids who inherit houses in bad shape…
“These properties can languish for years and years,” Van Atta continued. “I’m sure you all have homes you drive by (and wonder), when is somebody going to do something? Just by nature of the system, it can be years before anyone can act on it.”
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When such properties are razed, there is often neighborhood celebration: “Sometimes we’ve had demolitions and neighbors sitting out in lawn chairs (watching)," Van Atta said. "Once they were barbecuing, so happy to see this house come down. Nobody is living there but you’ve got critters, squatters, druggies and you’ve got problems.”
He recalled one house that had to have about “10 tons of stuff from inside the property” cleared out before it was razed.
One of the great advantages of the Land Bank, Van Atta said, is the ability to shorten the duration it can take to identify and demolish a troubled property, but also to invest funds toward home improvement to properties the private sector wouldn’t or couldn’t tackle cost-effectively.
Looking at a picture of a now-demolished South Second Street house in Newark, he said, “There was a fire. It was for several years sitting there and attracting bad things. Drug use… This was our first demolition.”
But the Land Bank also tries to restore and preserve where possible,and sometimes more than just dilapidated homes. An example of such a structure targeted for that attention is the recently purchased historic Arcade in downtown Newark.
The Land Bank also recently took in several lots around the downtown Newark Library, allowing desperately needed library parking expansion onto those neighboring parcels.
Currently, the Land Bank has in its possession about 70 properties – “mostly open property”, Van Atta said.
He told Pataskala Chamber members the Land Bank is interested in identifying possible sites in Pataskala that could be targeted for grants and needed attention, but amended, “To your credit, there are not a lot of issues here.”
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Pataskala Chamber gets Land Bank update on troubled properties, strategic demolitions
5 References That Should Be on Your List to Land the Job
When you're applying for jobs, a common request among employers is for you to provide a list of professional references. After your interview, your references could be a key component of whether you receive a job offer from a company.
For each new job opportunity, you should make sure your list of references is the right fit. Think about your relationship with each person. How closely did you work with them? How recently did you work together? How will they explain your qualities to the hiring manager? All of these details play a role in who goes on your list. You need to select people who will emphasize your strengths to potential employers.
It's a good idea to prepare a document listing your references so you can have them ready for employers. Here are five people you can include on your list of professional references if you want to land the job:
1. Former employer
A previous employer can provide the best insight into your work ethic. They know what your responsibilities were at your job and how you handled them.
2. Colleague
Someone you worked alongside at a previous job, even if they weren't your boss, can be an excellent reference. They will be able to speak about things you worked on together and what you achieved as a team. Teamwork is one of the most important soft skills an employer looks for, so having someone to vouch for your teamwork skills is vital.
3. Teacher
A teacher or professor can provide a really strong reference, especially if they taught a course pertinent to your major. They will be able to talk about the skills you picked up during their course, as well as your personal character.
4. Advisor
An academic advisor, depending on the amount of time you spent with them, is another great option for a reference. If your advisor is someone who got to know you really well during your college career, they can talk about how you've grown into the professional you are today.
5. Supervisor
Someone who supervised you, but wasn't necessarily your boss, could be another excellent reference to include. This could be a supervisor from a volunteer project, an internship, or some other extracurricular activity. Any of these people spent enough time working with you to get a sense of your character, and probably your passions. That combination makes for a great reference.
Choose at least three of these people to include on your list of professional references. Always bring a few copies of your list to interviews, in case you're asked to provide them. Promptly let the people on your list know when a hiring manager asks for your references, so they know to expect a call or email.
Your references could make or break your chances of landing a job, so make sure you select the best people to speak on your behalf.
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