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Caribou council directs attorney to request deed-in-lieu for tax-acquired 63 Sweden Street
Summary
The council authorized the municipal attorney to contact the former owner of 63 Sweden Street and indicate the city would accept a deed in lieu of further foreclosure action, with the city abating taxes and paying outstanding water/sewer to clear title and rehabilitate the property.
Council received a staff update on a tax-acquired property at 63 Sweden Street that the city took by automatic lien foreclosure in November 2025. Staff reported known outstanding charges: property taxes of $26,006.59 and outstanding water and sewer owed to the Caribou Utilities District of $7,066.56.
City staff outlined options to clear title so the property can be rehabilitated or conveyed to a buyer: (1) pursue a deed from the former owner to clear title quickly; or (2) go through the formal disposal process, which could take up to two years and is more legally complex in light of recent court decisions about lien disposal.
Several councilors said they would prefer to accept a deed in lieu and clear title so the building can be addressed rather than leave it vacant and vandalized. A motion directing municipal attorney Richard Solomon to contact the former owner, indicate the council would accept a deed, abate taxes and pay outstanding CUD charges, and return to the council passed on a roll-call vote (one councilor recorded a No). Council identified possible funding sources for the costs including TIF and blight funds.
