Board directs staff to advance tax‑foreclosed parcels for surplus declaration; sheriff’s auction to follow

Clackamas County commissioners on April 8 directed staff to prepare a business‑meeting item that would declare a collection of tax‑foreclosed parcels surplus so the county may dispose of them and return the properties to the tax rolls.

Dan Johnson, director of Transportation and Development, and Sarah Ekman, assistant director, described the county’s property‑disposition process: properties that forfeit after a tax‑foreclosure process under Oregon Revised Statutes are deeded to the county. County policy is to sell or otherwise dispose of tax‑foreclosed property to recover unpaid taxes and county costs, remove the county’s exposure to ongoing maintenance and liability and return the property to private ownership and the tax rolls as quickly as possible.

Staff said the sale process for the listed parcels would be coordinated with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and typically conducted through a publicly noticed sheriff’s auction in accordance with ORS. The staff packet included background about legal process, a recent relevant court case and the county’s accounting procedures to hold surplus proceeds and process any claims from parties with prior interests.

Commissioner Martha Schrader moved to direct staff to bring the attached list of tax‑foreclosed parcels to a future business meeting for declaration of surplus property; Commissioner Paul West seconded. The roll‑call vote was 3–0 (one commissioner was absent during the later session). Staff said the item will return to a future business meeting with the formal surplus declaration and auction schedule.

Ending: Staff will prepare the formal surplus declaration and auction materials for a future board meeting, coordinate sale logistics with the sheriff’s office and ensure accounting procedures are in place to process proceeds and any claims.