By Bruce Rolfe
After spending thousands of dollars to go through the legal process and later have a structure on West Maple Street demolished, the Climax Village Council has an opportunity to claw that money back.
Climax Village Council President Bill Lewis informed the Council he received a foreclosure notice from the Kalamazoo County Treasurer Department for property located on West Maple Street the Council paid to have demolished.
Kalamazoo County Court records indicate on March 1, 2024 the property was forfeited to the Kalamazoo County Treasurer for nonpayment of property taxes.
However Patrick Farmer, deputy treasurer for External Services with the Kalamazoo County Office of the Treasurer, said the taxes on the property at 329 West Maple Street were paid January 7.
If the delinquent taxes, penalties, interest and fees had not been paid on or before March 31, 2025 the property owner could have lost interest in the property as a result of the foreclosure proceeding.
Lewis said the Council has absorbed approximately $15,000 in attorney fees and demolition costs at the location.
According to the March 29, 2024 Climax Crescent, the Council accepted a bid from Robert Bailey Contractors Inc. out of Kalamazoo for $13,500, to demolish the house at 329 West Maple Street, plus $1,500 to remove the septic tank. A judge ordered the council could proceed with the demolition.
The March 29 Climax Crescent article adds the Council intended to place a lien on the property until the cost for demolition is paid back to the Council.
Farmer said a lien was recorded with the county in June, 2024.
Farmer adds the Village can place a special assessment on the property to recoup the attorney fees and demolition costs. He said the special assessment could either be paid for by the property owner or the county would pay the Village the amount owed on the special assessment if the property owner does not pay the special assessment and the property goes into foreclosure.
Farmer said if the property did foreclose, the Village could purchase the property under First Right of Refusal. The Village could then work with Kalamazoo County Housing Department to build an affordable housing option on the land and sell if to recoup the expenses.
After spending thousands of dollars to go through the legal process and later have a structure on West Maple Street demolished, the Climax Village Council has an opportunity to claw that money back.
Climax Village Council President Bill Lewis informed the Council he received a foreclosure notice from the Kalamazoo County Treasurer Department for property located on West Maple Street the Council paid to have demolished.
Kalamazoo County Court records indicate on March 1, 2024 the property was forfeited to the Kalamazoo County Treasurer for nonpayment of property taxes.
However Patrick Farmer, deputy treasurer for External Services with the Kalamazoo County Office of the Treasurer, said the taxes on the property at 329 West Maple Street were paid January 7.
If the delinquent taxes, penalties, interest and fees had not been paid on or before March 31, 2025 the property owner could have lost interest in the property as a result of the foreclosure proceeding.
Lewis said the Council has absorbed approximately $15,000 in attorney fees and demolition costs at the location.
According to the March 29, 2024 Climax Crescent, the Council accepted a bid from Robert Bailey Contractors Inc. out of Kalamazoo for $13,500, to demolish the house at 329 West Maple Street, plus $1,500 to remove the septic tank. A judge ordered the council could proceed with the demolition.
The March 29 Climax Crescent article adds the Council intended to place a lien on the property until the cost for demolition is paid back to the Council.
Farmer said a lien was recorded with the county in June, 2024.
Farmer adds the Village can place a special assessment on the property to recoup the attorney fees and demolition costs. He said the special assessment could either be paid for by the property owner or the county would pay the Village the amount owed on the special assessment if the property owner does not pay the special assessment and the property goes into foreclosure.
Farmer said if the property did foreclose, the Village could purchase the property under First Right of Refusal. The Village could then work with Kalamazoo County Housing Department to build an affordable housing option on the land and sell if to recoup the expenses.
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