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Interested buyers
of 'next-door neighbor' lots can now buy them outside of auction time. By Brian Shields, Times Staff Writer CROWN POINT -- There is a change in the way commissioner-owned lots 25 feet or less can be disposed of and placed back on the county tax rolls. The commissioners voted 3-0 at Wednesday's meeting to establish a system where people interested in the lots can buy them at any time, not just on the scheduled auction dates, through the end of this year. The next scheduled commissioners' sale is Oct. 19. People who live adjacent to the small lots, many of which are located in Gary and have a minimum bid of $650, will be given first dibs at the lots if they do not sell in the first attempt, according to a motion by Commissioner Rudy Clay, D-Gary. Clay refers to these parcels as "next-door neighbor" lots, suitable for an adjacent property owner to purchase and place a garden on. Clay has said many of the neighboring property owners take care of the lots so their own properties won't look bad by extension. Commissioners attorney John Dull suggested interested parties could notify the treasurer's office if they are interested in one or more of the lots, then pay the minimum price for them. There are more than 1,300 of these lots owned by the commissioners because back taxes are due. Clay and fellow Commissioners Gerry Scheub, D-Schererville, and Fran DuPey, D-Hammond, said they will try whatever works to reduce that number and place the parcels back on the tax rolls. As part of the plan, any next-door neighbor who buys a parcel would have the information on it added to his existing property instead of having separate entries on the books for each lot. Also during the meeting, Dull announced Laidlaw Inc. has made a payment of $76,636.46 in back rent for a 12-acre parcel the company has been using as a school bus depot at 2323 W. 47th Ave. in Gary. Laidlaw further agreed to pay $8,000 per month in rent for continued use of the property, which came to the commissioners' possession because of delinquent taxes. Dull had sent a letter in early September demanding payment of back taxes and ordering Laidlaw to vacate the property. Laidlaw has a contract with Gary public schools through September. Dull said he is working with Laidlaw officials on a new lease, and the $8,000 figure was from the latest monthly amount the company had been paying based on the old lease. |
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Clay gives fundraiser to build more wheelchair ramps. Click here. | |||
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There is a change in the way lots can be disposed of. Click here. | |||
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Clay proposes using casino funds to pay property taxes for senior citizens. Click here. | |||
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Clay holds the "Toys for Kids that Santa Claus Forgot" program. Click here. | |||
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