County plans sale for delinquent taxes
Sale date tentatively planned for 2006
Staff reporter
Property owners owing nearly $100,000 in delinquent taxes will receive letters giving them an opportunity to pay the back taxes before the property is foreclosed and sold by the county.
Marion County Attorney Susan Robson and treasurer Jeannine Bateman presented information Monday to Marion County Commission regarding a resolution for a tax sale.
Robson said it was best for the county to have a tax sale every two years, with the last sale in December 2004.
By the time delinquent property owners are notified, title work is completed, and other processes are followed, the tax sale will be held in 2006, Robson said.
There are 116 properties in Marion County whose owners owe $91,814 in back property taxes.
Typically, when property owners know there's going to be foreclosure proceedings, the majority of the back taxes are paid, Robson said. The last tax sale had 10 properties.
She also suggested Hannaford Abstract & Title Company of Marion provide the title work. The law firm of Brookens & Collett also can do the tax work but Robson said she would consider it to be a conflict of interest for her since she is affiliated with the firm.
Robson will send letters with a due date of May 1 to pay the taxes. After May 1, the title company will be contacted to begin the title work with the property owners sharing the cost of the title work.
In other county business:
— County clerk Carol Maggard distributed a budget report. February and year-to-date expenses were in-line with the budget, she reported.
— County sales tax revenue will be used for a $15,000 payment for a feasibility study for a new jail.
The commission made the decision at a previous meeting to start the study but did not designate the fund to draw the payment.
— David Brazil, county zoning administrator, environmental health officer, and transfer station manager, distributed monthly budget reports for those departments.
All departments are in-line with the budget except the transfer station. A bond payment caused that budget to have 23 percent expended for the first two months of the year.
He also reported cleanup weeks for cities within the county will begin the second week of April. A walking floor trailer is being reconditioned and Brazil said should be completed in time to be used during cleanup weeks.
— While reviewing the transfer station budget, commissioner Dan Holub asked Brazil why flat tires were not repaired in-house. Brazil explained there was equipment at the station to remove the tire from the rim but not to patch. The tire is taken to a local repair shop for patching.
Commissioner Randy Dallke said the tires could be repaired by road and bridge personnel. Brazil said it was possible since a second set of rims had been purchased.
— Following a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel between Brazil and the commission, Brazil announced Dan Selznick had been hired at the transfer station.
— Markley Service was awarded bids for 2, 4-D Amine for road sides and customer sales totaling $23,670 for the county noxious weed department.
Weed department director Bill Smithhart reported the other two lower bids would not benefit county businesses as all money would go out-of-county. The commission determined the money should stay within the county and awarded the bids to Markley Service of Marion.
The commission also approved an increase in hourly pay for part-time noxious weed department employees from $6.50 to $7.00 per hour. Smithhart said he had no response to advertisements for the position and was hoping an increase in pay would result in applications.
— The April 1 county commission meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. The commission also will meet April 8 to canvass election results from April 5.
The next commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse. Agenda items include a work session to discuss road improvements at 1:30 p.m., and discussion of a county economic development position at 2:30 p.m.
