When the Scott County delinquent property tax sale list was first advertised in late August there were 113 parcels with back taxes owed. By the time of last Friday’s tax sale on Oct. 6 began, that list had been pared down to 44 after property owners paid taxes owed prior to the sale.
This year’s tax sale was a live auction in the commissioner’s room at the Scott County Courthouse, said Scott County Auditor Jennifer Hamelman.
The 16 parcels sold owed a total of $39,336.56 in unpaid property taxes and fees. There were three successful bidders who paid a total of $134,089.97 for those parcels.
“The county is only interested in the taxes owed,” said Scott County Treasurer Missy Applegate. “The amount paid over the taxes owed will go into a surplus tax sale fund.”
She added, “Tax sales are a necessary function of county government. It is only fair to the people who pay their property taxes every year to pursue those who do not pay.”
Hamelman explained that those properties sold last week can be redeemed by their owners by paying the taxes plus 10% for up to the next six months; after that the interest increases to 15%. Upon redemption, the surplus paid by the successful bidder will be returned to that bidder.
Twenty-three properties, with a total of $253,790.75 in unpaid taxes, failed to obtain the minimum bid of taxes owed.
The Scott County Commissioners can now decide whether to have a Commissioners’ Certificate Sale to sell the 23 properties that failed to receive a minimum bid for taxes owed and have them placed back on the roles earning taxes for the county. Typically, at a certificate sale the minimum beginning bid is $200.
Successful bidders included:
•M&M Investment Group LLC, Michael Ellis of Cortland, which purchased 14 properties for a total of $123,741.94.
•Travis Jones of Scottsburg purchased one property for $9,500.00
•Joshua Colwell of Scottsburg purchased one property for $848.03.
The following parcels sold at tax sale. Listed is the property owner, address, taxes owed; buyer and amount paid.
Jennings Township
Lennie Begley, 1129 Mann Ave, Austin, $2,152.83; M&M Investment, $5,000.
Ronald G. & Vickie Raichel, 810 English Ave., Austin, $3,848.66; M&M Investment, $3,848.66.
Joe Farnsley, 367 N Church St, Austin, $1,988.59; M&M Investment, $1,988.58.
Betty Alene Fox, 526 Cross St., Austin, $2,202.92; M&M Investment, $11,000.
Karen Mullins, 285 S. Oak St., Austin, $2,852.93; M&M Investment, $4,000.
Johnson Township
Ryder Snelling, 452 N State Road 203, Scottsburg, $2,150.64; M&M Investment, $41,000.
Lexington Township
Charles M. & Lisa A. Doyle, 4695 W Stucker Road, Lexington, $2,041.81; M&M Investment, $10,000.
Ethan Jones, 4.2685 acres north of 4841 Rita Court, Underwood; $996.72; M&M Investment, $9,500.
Ethan Jones, 4.7516 acres north of 4728 Rita Court, Underwood, $1,085.41; M&M Investment, $1,085.41.
James Dale Mills, 4524 S. Clark Road, Scottsburg, $965.03; M&M Investment, $3,500.
Mary Dryden, 1729 N. Terrell Rd, Scottsburg, $941.07;
Vienna Township
Mary Dryden, 1729 N. Terrell Rd., Scottsburg, $941.07; M&M Investment, $7,500.00
Michael A. & Tina M. McCurry, 2245 E. Werewolf Lane, Underwood, $14,819.29; M&M Investment, $14,819.29.
Pauline Kruse & Tonya Sweet, 4489 S. Boatman Road, Scottsburg, $1,055.34; M&M Investment, 8,000.00.
Dorothy Jennings, 162 N. Third St, Scottsburg, $781.31; Travis Jones, $9,500.
Terri L Blythe, 14 Jarin Court, Scottsburg, $605.99; M&M Investment, $2,500.00
Blue Dog LLC, .04 of an acre on South Gardner St., Scottsburg, $848.03; Joshua Colwell, $848.03.