FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ohio -- A faith-based group called BREAD toured some of Central Ohio's "worst of the worst" blighted properties Monday.
Residents say these abandoned, blighted homes and buildings are lowering property values and many times are breeding grounds for drug sales and violence.
Residents want to know why it takes so long for city and county government to step in and clean things up.
The Franklin County treasurer says it's a challenge to collect tax dollars from owners of abandoned property and there are plenty of court hoops to get through to get some of the homes torn down.
Franklin County and the city of Columbus work to try and identify homes that could pose safety hazards and need to be taken down.
Problems come when there is a chase to find former owners at these homes to start the process to get these spots cleaned up.
Franklin County Treasurer Ed Leonard says the county does work hard to get the tax dollars by selling tax-collection data to agencies. That way, the county still collects the money to be dispersed to agencies.
Leonard says he doesn't believe the technique slows the process of getting a home torn down or getting it in the hands of a new owner.
BREAD will challenge city and county officials, state legislators and judges to join efforts to create a new standard for Columbus and Franklin County to stop the plague of vacant and abandoned houses and to increase access to health care and drug rehabilitation opportunities.
The open-to-the-public meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Monday and will take place at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 300 W. Broad St.
You can report a nuisance property in your community by calling the Mayor's action line at 614-645-3111.
NBC 4 wants to hear about nuisance properties in your community. Send them to us by emailing stories@nbc4i.com.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
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