Redistricting reveals properties not paying Sellersburg taxes

Clark County

Discussion

August 14, 2012

Redistricting reveals properties not paying Sellersburg taxes

Town council takes action on several contracts

By BRADEN LAMMERS braden.lammers@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Tue Aug 14, 2012, 05:30 AM EDT

SELLERSBURG — Redistricting work under way in the town of Sellersburg revealed several properties that have failed to pay the town’s taxes for more than two decades.

But it’s not because the homeowners weren’t paying taxes, it was that they were paying the taxes to Clark County.

Todd Booker, associate with Jacobi, Toombs and Lanz, Inc. who is working on the redistricting for the town said the error was discovered for three properties off of Ohio Avenue when he was completing the GIS mapping for the new districts.

Sellersburg Town Attorney Jake Elder said he was unsure how the error occurred but he is looking into the matter.

“It’s been ... 21 years,” he said. “I don’t know what happened there at the county.”

Since 1991 when the area was annexed into Sellersburg, the three properties in question were somehow overlooked and remained on the county’s property tax rolls instead of being transferred to Sellersburg.

When asked if there was a way for the town to recover payment for the property taxes improperly paid to the county Elder said, “if there is, hopefully the town and the county will come to an agreement.”

Another question that was outstanding related to the redistricting for Sellersburg is the inclusion of Covered Bridge Subdivision.

Sellersburg recently won an Indiana Court of Appeals ruling that the town could annex the golf community, and that its remonstrance was invalid. Covered Bridge has been fighting to remain independent from the town for several years and the deadline to appeal the court of appeals ruling is this week.

Whether Covered Bridge ultimately becomes part of Sellersburg or not, the redistricting under way will not include the area.

“This redistricting will not show the annexation as successful yet,” said Council President Paul Rhodes. “This is just the current numbers we had from the 2010 census.”

Because the redistricting, which is mandated within two years of the 2010 census, is based on that year’s census numbers, Covered Bridge will not be counted as part of the town.

However, Rhodes also asked if the annexation effort is successful, would the contract cover redistricting services for that area.

Booker said he believed it would and that any additional costs beyond the proposal presented up to $5,000 would have to be approved by the council.

The council unanimously approved the contract with the money to be paid out of Sellersburg’s Rainy Day fund.

Resolutions and ordinances

The council unanimously approved amending a tall grass and nuisance ordinance to follow recently enacted state regulations. The new law requires the property owner still be notified by certified mail for the first offense, but subsequent violations can be posted on the property and do not have to be sent by the town via certified mail.

The ordinance — 2012-11 — was unanimously approved on its first, second and final readings.

The council also passed a resolution — R-2012-2 — to donate a piece of property to the Clark Regional Airport. Although the council had previously approved the donation of the property valued at $42,000, the council was still required to ratify a resolution passed by the Clark County Board of Aviation Commissioners.

Contract action

An insurance renewal presented at the council’s previous meeting was approved Monday.

The renewal with ISU Insurance and Investment Group totaled $134,531 for the annual premium, which is an increase of $10,326 over last year’s costs.

In addition, a contract with Nuisance Animal Services was discussed, but no action was taken.

Owner Tom Kendrick requested that the council increase the contract amount by $100 each month to a total of $400 per month. The request was taken under consideration by the council and Kendrick’s contract is due for renewal at the end of the year.

Snow?

Despite the drought conditions that have affected Southern Indiana for more than a month, Sellersburg’s town council addressed the issue of snow at Monday’s meeting.

Municipal Works Director Ken Alexander asked the council to pay for a salt storage container for $10,325.

He explained that as part of the state’s purchasing program, for which the town receives a substantial discount, the town is required to purchase at least 80 percent of the salt requested for the year. The container will hold the 80 percent the town is required to purchase, Alexander said.

The council unanimously approved buying the container.