County looking to sell acquired property
The Jackson County Commissioners are looking into selling several homes and vacant lots acquired by the county through recent tax sales.
During a recent commission meeting, the commissioners learned from Earl Bahret and Eric Fritz, road and bridge department co-supervisor, that a local resident is interested in buying some property owned by the county in Denison.
At the county’s most recent tax sale in October, the county acquired four properties that were not sold. The owners of the properties sold at the sale had been delinquent on their taxes for several years.
In order for a member of the public to have purchased a property at that tax sale, they had to bid more than the delinquent taxes and any special assessment costs owed on the property.
The commissioners agreed that they do not want the county to be responsible for owning and managing properties throughout the county. Bahret also reported that those properties have to be mowed and maintained according to city standards.
In addition to the Jackson County Courthouse and other department properties, the county owns:
* A house located at 327 Whiting St. in Whiting appraised at $13,070.
* A strip of land (a quarter of an acre) on V Road.
* A house located at 203 Western Ave. in Denison appraised at $12,740.
* A vacant lot at 109 Eastern Ave. in Denison.
* A vacant lot at 114 Central Ave. in Denison.
* A vacant lot at Central Avenue in Denison.
* A vacant lot at 107 Eastern Ave. in Denison.
* A vacant lot at the corner of Eighth Street and Minnesota Avenue.
* 150 square feet of land at the corner of Fourth Street and P Road just west of Holton Family Health Center.
* A strip of land at 234th Road near Havensville on the west county line.
* A strip of land along T2 Road off of 110th Road in Hoyt.
* A vacant lot on Eastern Avenue in Hoyt.
* An area of land at the corner of P4 and 102nd Roads in Hoyt.
The commissioners and County Counselor Alex Morrissey are looking into each of the properties to see when they were acquired and under what circumstances.
Morrissey told the commissioners that they could sell vacant lots not sold on the tax sale by passing a resolution and listing them for sale in an advertisement in The Holton Recorder twice. Offers must be made by sealed bids.
No decisions have been made yet to list any of the properties at this time, it was reported.
