Board of Realtors welcomes Todd Wilkin, Barbara Lach

The Highland County Press

The Highland County Board of Realtors welcomed Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin, Ohio Association of Realtors RPAC Coordinator and past president of the OAR Barbara Lach and Tim Bullock of Union Home Mortgage – http://www.unionhomemortgage.com – at their Thursday, July 24 monthly meeting held at the Hillsboro Ponderosa Banquet Center.

Wilkin told local Realtors that it had been 483 days since he last spoke to the board.

"A lot has happened in Hillsboro in 483 days," Wilkin said. "Four hundred and eighty-three days ago, my topic was 'If we build it, they will come.' I still believe that, but it takes energy and money for restoration and renovation of a lot of our buildings.

"The last time I spoke, the vacant property legislation was a hot topic," he said. "Today, the hot topic is the establishment of a Hillsboro building department and code enforcement."

Wilkin said the county is contracting with Tim Hobgood of the Clinton County Building Department (see: http://co.clinton.oh.us/government/building-and-zoning/) for inspections and enforcement. He said the city expects the department to be self-sufficient.

The city's application for the building department is to be reviewed by the State of Ohio in Columbus on Aug. 7, after which, Wilkin said citizens would be informed through news releases to local media.

Wilkin also discussed several potential problem properties, the legal process for razing these buildings and the cost associated with doing so.

In addition, Wilkin said the Hillsboro Uptown Renaissance Project – with funds being utilized by local building owners and businesses through the city's revolving loan fund – has begun some painting and exterior renovation in the uptown area.

He said the city is partnering with HERP, much like the city of Cincinnati partners with 3CDC (see: http://www.3cdc.org/).

"HURP currently is working with the uptown businesses," Wilkin said. "If you see painting, that's how it's being done. The money is being utilized by building owners through the revolving loan fund, which was underutilized for many years."

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Barbara Lach made her annual visit to the board in advance of the August Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC) fundraiser.

Historically, the Highland County Board of Realtors has exceeded its goal of $850 annually.

Lach, of Columbus, who last year was honored as the 2013 recipient of the Ohio Association of Realtors' Vincent T. Aveni Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lach reviewed local participation in RPAC and mentioned working with local Realtor Jill Yochum to increase county membership.

In 2004, Highland County had eight RPAC members. Today, there are 85 area members.

Lach stressed the legislative benefits, both on the state and national levels, in supporting RPAC, which has more than 1.3 million members nationwide.

Highland County Board of Realtors President Diane Uhl thanked all the speakers and the board also expressed appreciation to Union Home Mortgage for sponsoring the luncheon.