My goal is to establish valuable relationships with key players in the area, including agents, property managers, and contractors.

Would be happy to share you local contacts here (PMs, contractors, lenders) who can guide you.

They usually have regulations on the # of dwellings per acre and I’d hate for you to spend money designing bringing utilities to the site only to be in a city council meeting where the local neighbors shut down the proposed development. 

I'm starting to think we are in over our heads, so I reached out to a local, trusted property management company through a friend of mine.

You're best bet is to call a local multifamily broker.

I have a great DSCR Lender I can connect you with (local guy) helping investors and military grow their portfolios.   

I think a great strategy if you're just starting out would be:1) Network here within BP, look in your local forums and meet people already in the biz.

Consider seeking legal advice or consulting with a property management professional for guidance on how to proceed with the eviction process in accordance with local laws.

As well as if it is smart to even have this as a back up plan In most places tax liens go right to the front of the line so there's no real risk to the state/local government and thus no reason to sell them for pennies on the dollar, as they usually can collect everything just by foreclosing.

Some of the others are sit-down PowerPoints that don't provide much value Also, go to BiggerPockets -> Build Your Team -> Local Meetups, and there are many great meetups there!