Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Maintenance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners raise safety and ownership concerns about boarded properties bought at tax sale
Summary
Officials described boarded houses in town, including one bought at a county tax sale in September 2024 for roughly $2,800 that still lists the prior deed-holder; staff and commissioners discussed possible town-attorney outreach to obtain purchaser information and address unsafe conditions.
Presiding official (unnamed) raised concerns about boarded and unsafe properties in town, describing one property that was sold at a county tax sale in September 2024 for about $2,800 but still appears in county records as deeded to the prior owner, Teresa White.
The presiding official said the towns online property system (Beacon) still shows the prior owner, and the county has not provided the name of the tax-sale purchaser despite the towns inquiries. The property remains an eyesore and safety hazard: the door has been kicked in and a refrigerator was placed to block entry. Commissioners discussed whether the town attorney could contact the county to request purchaser information or otherwise pursue code-enforcement steps.
The presiding official noted that Indiana law (as described in the meeting) restricts actions for 12 months after a tax-sale purchase while the prior owner may redeem the property, and commissioners expressed frustration that the countys records had not been updated and that no remedial action had occurred since the sale.
No formal enforcement action was taken at the meeting; staff said they would consider whether a legal approach from the town attorney or county contact was appropriate.
Next steps: staff to explore legal and administrative options to identify the purchaser and address unsafe conditions; commissioners may ask the town attorney to contact the county.
