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Marquette resident urges county to accelerate sheriff's tax sale for delinquent lot
Summary
At the April 14 meeting the Board of County Commissioners heard public comment from Barbara Rose, a Marquette resident, who urged the county to pursue a sheriff's sale and other remedies to clear title on a small, vacant lot she has sought to buy.
Barbara Rose, who identified herself as a McPherson County resident with longstanding family ties to Marquette, told the board she has pursued purchase of a small vacant lot in Marquette since 2022 and that the current record owner has not paid taxes, mowing charges or specials since February 2016.
Rose described multiple attempts to get the lot transferred or placed on a sheriff's tax sale, including offers to pay back taxes or cover legal costs. “I would like to know who's responsible for setting up a sheriff's sale so I can handle the right person,” Rose said during public comment.
Rose said the delinquent amount on the lot began small and has grown; she said the current back taxes on the parcel are about $7,746 and that Marquette had 28 delinquent properties on the county roll in 2023. She asked the county to consider outsourcing tax-sale processing to a private firm some counties use to expedite collections and clear titles.
County staff and commissioners responded with process information: they said title research, notice requirements and possible intervening events (bankruptcy filings, environmental issues, heirs not identified) can delay sales. The county counsel and administrator were identified as contacts for next steps; commissioners asked staff to reconnect with those offices and provide Rose with a contact number.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; the speaker provided contact information to county staff and the board said it would follow up.
