ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio — Philanthropist Donn Sinclair of the Sinclair Foundation pressed the Belmont County Board of Commissioners for answers at the July 15 commission meeting on why the county has not moved forward with his offer to provide $200,000 in privately funded demolition services for blighted properties in Bellaire that he hopes to redevelop for new housing.
Sinclair, a Bellaire native, and his wife, Kristin, announced their housing development initiative last year to help revitalize Bellaire’s Rose Hill neighborhood.
Sinclair said he is interested in redeveloping approximately 15 blighted properties whose owners collectively owe more than $200,000 in delinquent property taxes.
“There are thousands of dollars in past-due taxes on the roughly 15 homes we want to pay to demolish. There is over $219,000 in past-due taxes,” Sinclair told commissioners.
Sinclair said his goal is to improve neighborhoods for future generations while helping families build wealth through homeownership.
“Children that grow up in better homes and better neighborhoods are much more likely to be financially successful in life than children that don’t,” Sinclair said. “We think the children of Belmont County deserve that opportunity.”
Sinclair added that home ownership benefits families for generations.
“Up to 80 percent of American families pass down their home to the next generation. It’s the most valuable asset in their estate. This is how generational wealth is created. We think the next generation of Belmont County citizens deserves that opportunity.”
Sinclair expressed frustration that his proposal has not moved forward.
“The $200,000 has not been accepted. We should move forward for the better of our county’s children. We have no response.”
Commissioners Respond
Sinclair addressed commissioners during the public comment portion of Wednesday’s meeting.
Commission President Jerry Echemann suggested Sinclair present his proposal to the Belmont County Land Bank Board during its next meeting on Aug. 10.
Vice President of the Board of Commissioners, Vince Gianangeli, noted that Echemann and Commissioner J.P. Dutton both serve on the Land Bank Board.
Sinclair proposed using a contractor his foundation works with to perform the demolitions. Gianangeli responded that the Land Bank must follow public procurement requirements by seeking competitive bids and selecting the lowest and best qualified contractor.
Dutton, the newest member of the Land Bank Board, said Sinclair’s preferred contractor is not currently on the Land Bank’s list of approved contractors.
“I know at that June Land Bank meeting that a specific contractor was discussed,” Dutton said. “The contractor was not on the Land Bank’s pre-approved list, which is perfectly fine. I think the Land Bank encouraged the contractor to submit its qualifications so it could be considered along with the other contractors.”
Sinclair acknowledged that competitive bidding requirements apply when taxpayer dollars are involved but argued that because the $200,000 would come from the privately funded Sinclair Foundation, his organization should be allowed to select the demolition contractor.
Sinclair agreed to continue the discussion at the next Land Bank Board meeting, but he stated he will attend remotely since he lives in South Carolina. He also asked commissioners if the meeting could be conducted via Zoom rather than by phone.
In an email to this reporter, Sinclair forwarded correspondence between him and Belmont County Treasurer and Land Bank Board Member, Kathy Kelich, outlining their differences regarding board policies and public-private partnerships.
Sinclair stated in his email to Fatula that he disagrees with what the commissioners said during last Wednesday’s meeting:
“We believe that any BC [Belmont County] land bank procedures and protocols apply to Ohio taxpayer dollars. What the commissioners espoused today is a bunch of hooey!”
