New Partnership: City and County to Address Derelict Property Owners

Hamilton County Recorder Rebecca Groppe and I teamed together today to improve the ability of neighborhoods to force absentee property owners to maintain derelict lots in the city.

Residents and City inspectors have an easy time identifying problem properties. However, identifying the owners is often a much tougher challenge and can prevent the City from forcing compliance with our quality of life laws.

Recorder Groppe and Berding I will work together to help identify the offending property owners. When the City pinpoints a property, lot or address that is not being cared for, they will notify the Recorder with the information they have. The Recorder’s Office will then track down the name and last known contact information for the property owner and supply the City with that information.

Our Offices are beginning a partnership that I hope will spread throughout the county in which the Recorder can help our local governments identify their worst offenders.

The only way we are going to force cleanup of these nuisance properties is for elected officials across local government to work together, and we are grateful that County Recorder Groppe has stepped up with this program addressing one of our biggest impediments.

This action will begin the process of forcing owners to take responsibility for their derelict properties. Property owners, ultimately, may face fines, liens and loss of ownership if they fail to properly maintain their responsibilities.