Tax sale of rundown building stalled
The City of Washington has taken steps to put a neglected building in the downtown back on the tax rolls.
At the request of the city, Washington County President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca Thursday stayed the tax claim sale of 96 N. Main St. for 90 days to allow an agreement to be reached for the city or its community development corporation to acquire the building, said the city’s solicitor, Jack Cambest.
Cambest said the building owner, Washington County Industrial Development Authority, has agreed to donate the building, and all taxing parties will waive a total of $25,066 in back taxes. The taxes were due the city, county and Washington School District.
Cambest petitioned the court Thursday to stay the Sept. 23 Washington County Tax Claim Bureau sale in order to work out the agreement on the building that had been leased to former county district attorney John C. Pettit for his private law practice.
Pettit died Oct. 30, 2010, and the lease agreement was transferred to his sons, Kit and Jesse Pettit, who desire to terminate the lease agreement and their option to purchase the property, the record shows.
The city claimed in the petition that the building is in poor condition and needs to be rehabilitated before it is returned to use.