Boatcop
06-03-2003, 08:13 PM
City, county spar over channel taxes
By Matthew Bunk
TodayÂ’s News-Herald 06/03/2003
A strip of land that spans the Bridgewater Channel could be sold to the highest bidder if the city and county donÂ’t come to an agreement over $1.3 million in overdue taxes.
The Mohave County TreasurerÂ’s Office last week authorized the posting of a foreclosure notice on 16 acres of land that spans the channel. Signs were placed at conspicuous locations on the edge of the property, but were removed, according to county officials.
“They were not to be taken down,” said County Treasurer Dora Goodmiller. “It’s illegal.”
Lake Havasu City acquired the parcel on Dec. 28, 2001, according to county records. American Land Company, a division of McCulloch Realty Corp, formerly had owned the land.
At the time of the sale, American owed the county about $430,000 in actual taxes and another $870,000 in interest and penalties.
The city, now possibly responsible for the debt, has 90 days to act before the land is deeded to the state. At that time the county will have the authority to sell the land at auction.
“The city has had all this time to come to us. They can approach the board or me anytime for a compromise,” Goodmiller said. “But that doesn’t mean they’ll get it for nothing.”
The city will discuss its options at a June 10 council meeting, according to Lake Havasu City Attorney Maureen George.
The property tax has been delinquent since 1976. The land was deeded to the state and then to the city.
“Why now,” George said. “They took no action to collect those taxes until the city taxpayers were on the book to pay.”
The land was designated for commercial use before McCulloch dredged the channel, and the company never requested a zoning variance for the submerged parcel, said County Supervisor Buster Johnson.
“It doesn’t make sense for that land to be zoned commercial,” George said. “Nobody charges a fee to use the channel.”
That may be subject to change.
“I asked the Army Corps of Engineers ‘what if I put up a rope at each end and charged everybody five bucks to come in?’” Johnson said. “They said they don’t care, as long is it doesn’t affect the flow of water.”
Johnson admitted that he hasn’t researched the legalities of such drastic measures but said, “Anything is possible if you get a lawyer.”
Parties on both sides of the dispute indicated they didnÂ’t expect the matter to go to auction.
“Putting up for sale is a formality,” Johnson said. “We can forgive part of it.”
By Matthew Bunk
TodayÂ’s News-Herald 06/03/2003
A strip of land that spans the Bridgewater Channel could be sold to the highest bidder if the city and county donÂ’t come to an agreement over $1.3 million in overdue taxes.
The Mohave County TreasurerÂ’s Office last week authorized the posting of a foreclosure notice on 16 acres of land that spans the channel. Signs were placed at conspicuous locations on the edge of the property, but were removed, according to county officials.
“They were not to be taken down,” said County Treasurer Dora Goodmiller. “It’s illegal.”
Lake Havasu City acquired the parcel on Dec. 28, 2001, according to county records. American Land Company, a division of McCulloch Realty Corp, formerly had owned the land.
At the time of the sale, American owed the county about $430,000 in actual taxes and another $870,000 in interest and penalties.
The city, now possibly responsible for the debt, has 90 days to act before the land is deeded to the state. At that time the county will have the authority to sell the land at auction.
“The city has had all this time to come to us. They can approach the board or me anytime for a compromise,” Goodmiller said. “But that doesn’t mean they’ll get it for nothing.”
The city will discuss its options at a June 10 council meeting, according to Lake Havasu City Attorney Maureen George.
The property tax has been delinquent since 1976. The land was deeded to the state and then to the city.
“Why now,” George said. “They took no action to collect those taxes until the city taxpayers were on the book to pay.”
The land was designated for commercial use before McCulloch dredged the channel, and the company never requested a zoning variance for the submerged parcel, said County Supervisor Buster Johnson.
“It doesn’t make sense for that land to be zoned commercial,” George said. “Nobody charges a fee to use the channel.”
That may be subject to change.
“I asked the Army Corps of Engineers ‘what if I put up a rope at each end and charged everybody five bucks to come in?’” Johnson said. “They said they don’t care, as long is it doesn’t affect the flow of water.”
Johnson admitted that he hasn’t researched the legalities of such drastic measures but said, “Anything is possible if you get a lawyer.”
Parties on both sides of the dispute indicated they didnÂ’t expect the matter to go to auction.
“Putting up for sale is a formality,” Johnson said. “We can forgive part of it.”