The Hall County Commission gave final approval Thursday to a resolution that signals the county's agreement to join a proposed land bank with the city of Gainesville.
The commission approved the agreement unanimously and no citizens spoke at the mandatory public hearing for the item. Officials said the bank will give the two governments the ability to buy, renovate and sell dilapidated properties in Gainesville, as well as pockets of land in the county's jurisdiction.
Hall County Administrator Jock Connell said the city of Gainesville will have more representation on the board than the county because the county is not currently putting any funds into the land bank.
"(Gainesville's) representation on the board will be a greater number than ours, which is only fair because they're putting the money in," Connell said. "If and when we decide to get in and put some money in, then the representation would be revisited."
The bank will need to be approved by the Gainesville City Council before it becomes reality. Connell said the county agreed to the bank because state law requires at least one city and one county government for it to be formed.
Gainesville City Manager Bryan Lackey had attended previous county commission meetings where the land bank had been discussed and he said the city council is expected to vote on the bank sometime in June.
