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Council waives past assessments for 509 South Poplar after county sale
Summary
Lennox council approved a waiver of special assessments on a long-vacant property the county sold at auction, following staff recommendation; council discussed limits of county authority to waive assessments.
The Lennox City Council voted to waive outstanding special assessments on a long-vacant property at 509 South Poplar that Lincoln County acquired by tax sale and later sold at auction.
Staff explained Lincoln County had waived past-due property taxes but could not waive city special assessments tied to drainage and street maintenance. City staff recommended waiving roughly $2,000 in past-due assessments on the property because the county's tax forgiveness and the property's change in ownership meant the waiver would not materially affect city funds and the new owner is undertaking improvements.
Council members asked whether assessments beyond the drainage and street maintenance fees remained; staff said none remained. Council also discussed that the county did not place improvement requirements on the auction sale and that any profit realized by the county from the auction proceeds was unclear.
A motion to approve the waiver of assessments passed by voice vote. The waiver applies to assessments that accrued prior to the current owner's acquisition; ongoing annual property taxes and future assessments will remain the responsibility of the current owner.
