What is happening with Land Bank reform in the Shelby County Commission?

In 2023, Shelby County Commissioner Britney Thronton began conducting ad hoc meetings focused on reevaluating the Shelby County Land Bank. Now, after attempting to pass an ordinance focused on reforming the department, Thornton removed the ordinance off the last meetings agenda and opted for a discussion item.

During committee meetings, some items are listed as "Discussion," where commissioners and the public can ask questions regarding a topic.

The bank sells delinquent tax properties on behalf of Shelby County Government.

Thornton told The Commercial Appeal previously that her experience buying properties from the Land Bank inspired her to evaluate the department, and ultimately try to reform it so it could produce revenue for the county.

Since the start of the ad hoc committee, a temporary committee set up to address a particular issue, Thronton has been a harsh critic of delinquent property sales that do not recoup the taxes owed. She is pushing hard for properties in District 10, which she represents, to be sold at prices that reflect the taxes owed because many properties in the land bank's ownership go for much lower.

Previously: Shelby County could be making significant changes to the county land bank

One proposed change to the land bank would be to only allow the properties to have in-person bid-offs, allowing a more competitive buying atmosphere. Another major change is to rename the land bank the "Shelby County Real Estate Department."

Other changes the land bank could undergo include lowering the processing fee and making unsuccessful bids refundable and changes to nominal conveyances. Nominal conveyances would be charged a minimum of half the assessed value and must be in alignment with current city or county neighborhood plans.

While these changes have been in and out of county commission meetings for the last few months, no action has been taken to finalize the ordinance. Ordinances typically take three readings to pass, four if there are major changes to them.

During a March 18 meeting, the land bank ordinance is slated to have its final reading.

What happened to land bank reform?

Before Thornton was elected, she was a frequent purchaser of land bank properties. She said she developed relationships with the staff and learned the inner workings of the department through those purchases.

Thornton has previously purchased properties from the department, but current employees of Shelby County Government, including Commissioners, are not able to make purchases through the land bank. Thornton made her purchases before she was elected as a Commissioner.

Through the ad hoc committee, Thornton looked to evaluate the land bank and make changes to its structure.

The Delinquent Tax Property Ad Hoc Committee had its last meeting in August 2023, and Thornton presented an ordinance that would introduce big changes to the land bank in mid-October. As the ordinance passed through the commission, it underwent major changes which required additional readings.

During committee meetings, discussions surrounding the land bank ordinance were not as robust as other items. Thornton said more often than not she felt she was a "committee of one," because other commissioners did not always stay to the end of often lengthy meetings.

"These long meetings are indicative of...decades of work that we just need to compensate for. So, I believe in moving with a sense of urgency," Thornton said. "I don't believe that government has to move slow, and I think that people should show up and we can move as fast as we want to."

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Shelby County Commission roles are not full-time, and most commissioners work full-time jobs in addition to their elected positions.

After months of back and forth between, Thornton pulled the ordinance off agendas altogether to seek more input from other commissioners who were on the fence.

Thornton said she hopes during the next Commission meeting on Monday commissioners can pass the finalized version of the land bank reform ordinance. Passing it during Monday's meeting, which Thornton hopes to do, would require the commission to suspend the rules.

Commissioners would have to suspend the rules as it will have to go to another meeting to be voted on a final time.

"I'm ready to just wrap it up. I have been listening and taking notes (from what) all my colleagues have said so I'm going to prepare a presentation to make sure that they feel confident," Thornton said. "There might be some final tweaks. I think that with like minimal substantive changes that we will be able to vote on it and then suspend the rules to vote on the final reading."

Brooke Muckerman covers Shelby County Government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at (901) 484-6225, [email protected] and followed on X, formerly known as Twitter @BrookeMuckerman.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County Land Bank: What to know about potential upcoming reforms