During Monday’s Geary County Commission meeting the commissioners went into a 15 minute executive session discussing a letter of support for Junction City’s creation of a Land Bank.

After the session Commission Chair Larry Hicks explained that they want more information before signing the letter of support.

“We do want to make certain that the structure of it is going to be representative of putting the county in the position were we are not going to be vulnerable to some actions that could inadvertently be taken on the part of the city with some properties that are put into the land bank that the county may not agree should be put in and may have some adverse effect,” Hicks explained.

Rebecca Bossemeyer, County Clerk, also brought to the attention of the commission that they should find out what impact it will have on the county’s budget.

Hicks did say that it will have an impact.

“This undertaking will have an impact on our coming budget and also on future budgets, and we need to have some sense on how we imply a process that is going to be one that is going to have clarity and certainty and also be able to let us know what has value and what doesn’t.”

The Junction City Commission passed an ordinance to create that Land Bank in March.

It would involve a process where vacant housing lots on the northwest side of Junction City on which back property taxes are owed could be put into a Land Bank to encourage future housing development.  Back property taxes that are owed would be forgiven and special assessments levied on the property could be delayed until a later time.