Several pieces of property recently acquired by Shawano County will be sold through sealed bids.
The properties were seized by the county after more than four years of delinquent taxes went unpaid.
County Treasurer Debra Wallace said the properties were taken through a court process known as “in rem” and is regulated by state law.
“After four years of not having taxes paid on the property, the county begins this in rem process,” she said. “Usually in early December of the fifth year, the judge will give possession of the property to the county.”
Sealed bids for several properties are due to the county treasurer’s office by 2 p.m. June 17. Each property has a minimum bid amount.
Successful bidders will be given a quit claim deed to the property from Shawano County upon full payment. Payment in full will be due no later than July 18.
All land and buildings will be sold “as is.”
Properties include:
• 23.5-acre lot on North Airport Drive and Lake Drive in the Town of Wescott. $3,200 minimum bid.
• 8.26-acre lot at W18776 County Road Z in Aniwa. $8,000 minimum bid.
• Lot and building at 519 Flint Ave., Mattoon. $12,000 minimum bid. Open house from 8:30-10 a.m. June 3.
• Lot and building at 502 S. Andrews St., Shawano. $10,000 minimum bid. Open house from 1:45-3:15 p.m. June 3.
• Lot on Weed Street in Shawano. $3,000 minimum bid.
Wallace said the minimum bids are based on the costs the county has invested in each property. These costs include back taxes, liability insurance, mileage for staff to inspect and secure the property, and wages of office staff to process the seizure and sale.
Reasons for people not paying the taxes include death of the property owner, a refusal or otherwise unwillingness to pay the taxes, the owner moved away or simple abandonment. Wallace noted that most of the in rem properties are in poor shape, and the county is lucky to get its costs back from the sale.
If a property sells for more than the costs the county has incurred, officials must make a good-faith effort to contact the owner or their families to pay them the difference.
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