Council rejects $600 after‑sale offer for 802 East Clay; council seeks legal review

The Bowie City Council voted to reject an after‑sale offer and not accept a $600 payment tied to property at 802 East Clay, a parcel that failed to draw bids at a June 3, 2023 sheriff’s sale. Bert raised concerns about how the post‑sale offer was handled and urged legal review before any acceptance.

Bert said the property "was supposed to be sold on the courthouse steps, but nobody bid on it. And after the fact ... somebody came forward and offered $600 for the property. I don't think that's legal." He said the city’s attorney handling tax collections, identified in the meeting as "Purdue Brandon," sent a letter about the matter without explanation.

Questions from councilmembers focused on outstanding liens and the normal resale process. A councilmember noted that the city typically would reclaim the property and place it on auction, which often yields a higher return. Bert told the council that under normal practice the city’s liens had been released and that "the $600 wouldn't cover that".

Why it matters: accepting an after‑sale payment without confirming the legality or resolving liens could forfeit the city’s interest and reduce recovery for taxing entities. Councilmembers said they did not want to authorize a transfer without further research.

Council action: the council made and adopted a motion not to accept the $600 offer for 802 East Clay and instructed staff to investigate legal and procedural questions and report back.

Next steps: staff (Bert and the city attorney) will update the council after researching the sale record, the attorney’s letter, and the status of liens on the property.