County counselors outline tax‑sale timeline and: city land‑bank interest in unsold parcels

County legal staff updated commissioners on the county’s tax‑sale process, how many parcels are expected to be offered, and interest from the City of Atchison in acquiring unsold parcels for a land bank.

County counsel reported the publication notice deadline passed on Feb. 14 with no responses filed by owners served via publication, and that affidavit(s) of publication are pending from The Globe. Counsel said he expected judgment to be complete this week and that a sale could be scheduled for March or April; he estimated the sale might include about 20 parcels ("maybe less").

Counsel described that some owners who have not been served asked for their properties to be included and that staff is working to get signed documents before judgment is entered. On parcels previously placed in the county’s name because they failed to sell at earlier tax auctions, staff said the city manager had expressed interest in taking a handful (three or four) of those parcels into the City Land Bank. Counsel said the transfer requires a deed and a motion and vote of the county commission; if accepted, the city may hold parcels in the land bank and typically does not pay taxes while property remains in the bank.

Commissioners agreed in principle that moving unsold city parcels to the city land bank would be preferable to leaving them in the county’s name and exempt from taxation, and they asked county staff to prepare deeds for consideration at the next meeting if the city remains interested.

Ending: County staff will finalize judgment paperwork for the tax sale, confirm a sale date, and, if requested, prepare deeds to offer a small set of city parcels to the City Land Bank at the board’s next meeting.