Changes in the law that cover the Tax Claim process now require individuals and entities that want to bid on properties at tax sales to go through a registration process.

Tax Claim Director Phil Gilbert said that prospective bidders “can no longer show up and just bid.”

The registration process has to be completed 10 days prior to the tax sale because a list of registered bidders will be distributed to the county’s municipalities who will have the ability to approve or object specific bidders.

This applies to individuals and businesses as Solicitor Nathaniel Schmidt explained businesses that want to bid will be required to provide authorizing documentation as part of the registration process.

“The idea is that I think in the past there’s been an opportunity to misuse the system to allow people that don’t remain current on their obligations to have different LLCs (andn) take title at the time of tax sales,” Schmidt said.

He said the process will also require bidders to state they don’t have any unpaid tax obligations in the county or properties that have violations relative to falling into disrepair.

“We have experienced that loophole before,” Commissioner Ben Kafferlin said, calling this a “good idea” while noting he doesn’t ordinarily like extra red tape.

Gilbert says he expects the first year to be challenging as people may want to just show up and bid.

Commissioner Jeff Eggleston said that once it is up and running through that “awareness of it will be greater.”

“This type of regulation is a great way to hopefully find some of those (questionable bidders) before they have to bid,” City Planner Vince DeJoy added.

Gilbert has recommended a $15 fee for the registration process which wasn’t objected to but Eggleston did note that he “definitely didn’t want it to be a barrier to entry.”

Schmidt said he would encourage any bidder to contact the Tax Claim office well in advance of the sale. The next sale is set for late September.

He added the county will “try to make it as easy as possible” to register.

Gilbert said registered bidders will help the actual auction run more smoothly.

Bike trail bids

Only one bid was received for repairs on the county’s Bike-Hike Trail.

Kafferlin noted that the total bid from IA Construction was $90,992.05 which “was more than we anticipated.”

“(I) think a lot of the companies are pretty well booked up trying to finish projects for this year,” County Planner Dan Glotz said.

Cost of the work was initially estimated at around $70,000 to be funded through the county’s Act 13 funds generated from unconventional gas development.

Officials agreed to review potential funding sources before taking any additional steps.