Commissioners declare surplus parcel, transfer it to abutting owner and approve minutes

Marion County Commissioners voted unanimously on July 15 to declare a parcel surplus and transfer it to the abutting landowner who submitted the highest bid, and earlier in the meeting approved minutes from their Feb. 18, 2025 session.

County staff presented the abutting-landowner program packet and identified the parcel offered at this meeting as 10908343321 Nicholas Avenue. Staff said all parcels offered through the abutting-landowner program must have been included in the Marion County tax-lien sale, must have an assessed value under $50,000 and must be transferred only to abutting landowners who are current on property taxes and own contiguous land. Staff told commissioners that multiple property owners received notice on this parcel because a nearby lot had been split; only the southern abutting property owner responded and had been maintaining the lot.

Commissioner Barbara Hartmans moved to declare the parcel surplus and transfer it to the abutting landowner with the highest bid; Myla Eldridge seconded. Chair Joseph O'Connor called for the vote; all commissioners present signified "aye," and the motion carried.

Earlier in the meeting, commissioners moved and approved minutes for the Feb. 18, 2025 meeting. That motion was moved by Barbara Hartmans and carried by voice vote with no recorded dissents.

Why it matters: the transfer returns a tax-delinquent, vacant lot to someone who is already maintaining the property and aims to simplify upkeep and neighborhood blight issues while following statutory redemption and transfer procedures tied to the county tax-lien process.

The commission set its next meeting for Aug. 19, 2025, at 2 p.m. in Room 260 of the City-County Building.