After a couple years of planning, the Warren County Landbank met for the first time Tuesday morning.

The items addressed during the meeting were largely procedural — the election of officers, selecting a solicitor, approving the bylaws and policies and procedures.

A land bank is a “governmental or nonprofit authority created to acquire, maintain, and stabilize vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties while working with other entities to promote the productive reuse of the properties,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The county commissioners have tasked Chief Clerk Pam Matve with leading the effort and she said on Tuesday that the members of the county’s Redevelopment Authority (RDA) are automatically on the landbank board — Phil Gilbert, Chuck Barone, Rob Hart and Joe Whipp.

She said there will be two others appointed by the commissioners, one of which participated in Tuesday’s meeting – City of Warren RDA chair Michael Boyd.

“I think this is a great thing,” Boyd said. “I look forward to actively participating.”

Phil GIlbert, elected chair of the landbank, called having Boyd be a part a “perfect fit.”

Commissioner Jeff Eggleston encouraged the members to review the processes and over the next couple months consider initiatives “which will help facilitate the work of the landbank.”

“We’ve got to learn what we’re supposed to do,” Barone said.

The county’s RDA met prior to the landbank and dealt with numerous properties including 200 Horton Ave. in Sheffield.

Matve said the “front porch is falling off the house” but County Planner Dan Glotz said that there may be a tenant in the residence, which would complicate any steps forward.

The RDA ultimately agreed to reach out to the township on whether the property is occupied.

There was an effort to remove 14 W. Main St. in Sheffield from the blight list but action was ultimately tabled until the township could be consulted.

Eggleston called it a “matter of having a good relationship with them. … It would be better for them to know.”