Belmont County Revitalization Effort Hits Roadblock Over Bidding Policy
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- A dispute over the selection of a demolition contractor has left the Belmont County Land Reutilization Corporation and the Sinclair Foundation at an impasse.
Sinclair Foundation co-founder Donn Sinclair addressed the Belmont County Board of Commissioners during its regular meeting Wednesday morning to voice his frustrations.
The Sinclair Foundation is pursuing a beautification project to build five new one-story homes in the Rose Hill neighborhood. Sinclair also hopes to expand the project to Monroe Street by demolishing several dilapidated structures whose owners have past-due or delinquent property taxes.
The Sinclair Foundation recently proposed that the land bank purchase one Monroe Street property.
The foundation has offered the land bank $200,000 in demolition services to address blighted homes, but the proposal has been delayed for two months because of procedural issues. The foundation wants to select its own contractor, while the land bank maintains the work must be bid out in accordance with its policies.
Belmont County Treasurer Katherine J. Kelich said the land bank’s demolition policy specifically states that the land bank is responsible for selecting the contractor.
“However, he’s been offered a couple different ways to approach this. We have offered to do the abatement and then transfer the property into his name where he could be the property owner, and then he can proceed to the demolition in accordance however he’d like. That was not to his liking,” Kelich said. “We had offered to all come together when we did the demolition bid, as we do our bidding process, and so that we can all come to a mutual agreement on that. And that did not meet his needs either. Our policy states what it states, and I’m not sure how we can appease him any better, other than just doing simply what he wants us to do.”
She added that Sinclair presented his proposal during a previous land bank board meeting, where the board chose not to move forward with it.
“I’m not sure how we proceed,” Kelich said. “It’s just a shame that a private company is not getting what they want, so they’re choosing to criticize the land bank for all the work that it’s done, and provided valuable benefits to the community. It’s just sad, there’s always someone that doesn’t want what someone, other company, or the government does. But it’s unfortunate that they’re trying to cast a shadow on the whole land bank just because of this one situation.”
Sinclair argued that because the demolition would be funded by the foundation rather than taxpayer dollars, the land bank’s policy should not apply.
“It is very important for us to get this resolved. This is a $250,000 home property and we met with builders yesterday to build this home at 3302 Washington Street, and the home next door is 1,000s of dollars in past due taxes,” Sinclair said. “We need to get rid of these blighted homes as quickly as possible so that they don’t pull down the value. If we don’t get the price that the house is worth, then we don’t create generational wealth, and that hurts the next generation of residents of Belmont County.”
He added that the foundation hopes to help county residents build generational wealth, which in turn would strengthen the local economy.
“Children that grow up in better homes, in better neighborhoods are much more likely to be financially successful in life than children that don’t, and we think that the children of Belmont County deserve that opportunity,” Sinclair said. “Up to 80% of American families pass down to the next generation the family home as the most valuable asset in their estate. This is how generational wealth is created. We think the next generation of Belmont County citizens deserve that opportunity.”
Commissioner Vince Gianangeli echoed Kelich’s comments, telling Sinclair that once the land bank owns a property, it must follow established procedures.
“I just want to explain how the government works, we have to bid things out. If you owned the home and you wanted to do it under your foundation, you can spend $10,000, you can spend $50,000 to demolish a home, we wouldn’t have a thing to say. That’s all on you. But when a home is owned by the land bank, then they have to bid that out. They have to go through the formal procedures of having contractors bid on projects to have them demolished, so that they get the best quote and the best utilization of taxpayer dollars,” Gianangeli said.
Sinclair replied that he understood the process but maintained that no taxpayer dollars would be used, so he does not believe that argument is valid.
Gianangeli asked whether the contractor Sinclair wanted to use could simply submit a bid for the project. Sinclair declined, saying he wanted to continue using his preferred contractor.
“We started this project, we offered them [the land bank] to join us to help and they have refused to do so. We’re offering $200,000 in demolition work, not a $200,000 check, because based upon our experience, we don’t have confidence in them,” Sinclair said. “But it’s more than just price. There’s a demolition contractor that we used that I needed a favor for the project. I picked up the phone and called him and it happened. We want those contacts because there are things that come up.”
Sinclair and his wife, Kristin Sinclair, live in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He said they need a contractor they know and trust to oversee the project while they are not physically in Bellaire.
Commissioner J.P. Dutton said he applauds the foundation’s efforts but believes the issue must be resolved with the land bank rather than the commissioners.
“I applaud you for what you’re doing, I think it’s a tremendous effort. I mean, it pains me a little bit that it’s come to this point that we’re having this kind of conversation in this type of setting. But this is a land bank conversation, and we’re not in a land bank meeting,” Dutton said.
Commissioner Jerry Echemann added that the next land bank meeting is scheduled for Aug. 10 and said that if Sinclair cannot attend in person, officials could arrange for him to participate via Zoom.