our beginning
The Columbiana County Land Bank was formed in April 2014
County Commissioners Mike Halleck, Jim Hoppel, and Tim Weigle passed legislation requested by County Treasurer Linda Bolon.
This legislation created the Land Bank as a tool to fight blight in the county and to prepare additional land for economic development activities.
CURRENT LEADERSHIP
Board Members
The Land Bank is governed by a Board of Directors.
Current members of the Land Bank Board of Directors:
- Mike Halleck, Chair
- Roy Paparodis, Vice-Chair
- Bryan Blakeman
- John Berlin
- Bill Cowan
- James Hall
- Traci Spratt
Executive Director
The daily activities of the Land Bank are overseen by an Executive Director. The Land Bank contracts with the Columbiana County Office of Economic Development to provide these services.
The Current Executive Director of the Land Bank is Haedan Panezott.
Mr. Panezott was named Executive Director of the Land Bank in May of 2021, after serving as Interim Executive Director for seven months. Prior to that, he assisted with the day-to-day operations of the Land Bank as the liaison in the Office of Economic Development.
He now oversees the entire program, including acquisition of properties, targeting of demolitions, coordination of rehabs, administering the side lot program, and facilitation of special economic development projects.
The Former Executive Directors of the Land Bank are Tad Herold and Bobby Ritchey.
Mr. Herold was the first Executive Director of the Land Bank and was instrumental in its formation, early funding, and initial program development.
He remains the Director of the County Office of Economic Development and continues to remain involved with the Land Bank as needed.
Mr. Ritchey was named Executive Director of the Land Bank in October of 2017, serving in that position until he transferred tot he Columbiana County Port Authority in October of 2020.
During his time as Director, he navigated the Land Bank through much of the NIP program, the multi-million dollar, federally funded program which demolished nearly 200 vacant, blighted, residential structures in Salem, East Liverpool, and Wellsville.