Letters to the Editor 05-07-2004
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Lost Property - Big Bang - Tired Of Tax Saga
Lost Property
Editor, Times-Union:Response to "Lost Property," Marc L. Powell.
Marc, you suggested my brother blame his family and friends for his loss of property, but you also suggest he not blame the Treasurer's Office because they are "elected officials bound to uphold the laws mandated to each individual office." So let's look at the facts in this case:
1. Tom & Eleanor Huffman owned (debt free) property 62 + or - acres just east of Etna Green.
2. Tom & Eleanor did have an agent who lived in Tennessee, and paid the property taxes annually for them while they were missionaries in Australia.
3. The agent moved and on the last statement received from the Treasurer's Office he crossed out his old address and wrote in his new address and sent in the statement and check for the taxes to the Treasurer's Office in a timely manner.
4. The agent also wrote the change of address on his check.
5. The next year's tax statement was mailed to the old address in error by the Treasurer's Office.
6. The agent did not pay the taxes.
7. The Treasurer's Office sent a certified notice to the same old address with the same results - notice not received by the agent.
8. Notice of sale of many taxpayers' properties was placed in the Times-Union as per state law.
9. The property in question was sold as per state law.
10. Also per state law the Treasurer's Office has a responsibility to notify the owner at the last known address, but failed to send the notices to the proper address that had been provided.
11. As a result of the Treasurer's Office failure to follow the state law, the property was sold without any knowledge of the owner.
12. Tom & Eleanor did have a responsibility per state law to pay the taxes regardless of the agent's failure to pay them or follow up.
13. The Treasurer's Office also had a responsibility to make the notification to the last known address and they failed to do due diligence to the state law in this regards.
14. The case was not reversed because my brother and his wife didn't learn of this tragedy until the time for appeal had passed.
15. The last fact that I share: My brother called the Auditor's Office prior to the deadline regarding an appeal, gave his name and new address in Sherman, Texas, and was not informed that the property was sold or that there was any kind of problem. They simply took the change of address down.
In my opinion, the Treasurer's Office personnel was negligent in their responsibility when it came to notification at the last known address. There was no dispute by the court regarding the change of address being in the hands of the Treasurer's Office. The ruling was simply based on the failure to appeal in a "timely manner." Now I ask you, how can you appeal if you are not notified?
Robert Huffman
Warsaw, via e-mail
Big Bang
Editor, Times-Union:The Sacred Heart Home And School Association hosted the Big Bang in the Sacred Heart Gym on April 24. The Big Bang Committee would like to thank the following local businesses who contributed to help make this a very successful evening: Medtronic, Zimmer, Downtown Eatery, Farmers State Bank, Lassus Handy Dandy, Bennigans, Coldwell Banker/Hamilton Realty, Lucas Realtors, Symmetry Medical/Othy, Century 21, State Farm Insurance, Petro's, Mutual Federal Bank, National City, Service Liquor, Ramada, Wal-Mart, Zale Drug, Owens, Rabb Water, Instant Copy, Marsh, The Paper Place and Applebees.
The Big Bang committee would also like to thank everyone who purchased tickets, attended the event, and volunteered to work. We are planning on this being an annual event and hope your generous support will continue.
The Big Bang Committee
Sacred Heart, via e-mail
Tired Of Tax Saga
Editor, Times-Union:I have been following the saga of Tom Huffman over the last few months and am wondering if anyone else is tired of his whining. Property taxes are a fact of life around here and installments are due in the spring and fall. If there is anything you can count on it is that you have to pay your taxes. I guess when Mr. Huffman didn't get his spring statement a few years back he must have thought that he had won the lottery and the county wasn't charging him that year. Come fall and still no bill! Why he must have fallen on his knees and thanked the tax gods for overlooking him this year. Next spring, no bill! Can you believe the luck?
I guess I should not make fun but it is about time he learns that no one is looking out for Tom Huffman but Tom Huffman himself. When the first statement didn't show he should have been tracking the problem down. If necessary he should have made a trip to the courthouse and straightened it out in person. I have dealt with the people in the clerk and treasurer's offices on several occasions and found them to be courteous, professional and very helpful. Who knows what the real story is here but even taking him at his word, he was not concerned enough about the property in question to follow through. You blew it, guy.
Jim Martin
Leesburg
via e-mail
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- Lost Property - Big Bang - Tired Of Tax Saga
Lost Property
Editor, Times-Union:Response to "Lost Property," Marc L. Powell.
Marc, you suggested my brother blame his family and friends for his loss of property, but you also suggest he not blame the Treasurer's Office because they are "elected officials bound to uphold the laws mandated to each individual office." So let's look at the facts in this case:
1. Tom & Eleanor Huffman owned (debt free) property 62 + or - acres just east of Etna Green.
2. Tom & Eleanor did have an agent who lived in Tennessee, and paid the property taxes annually for them while they were missionaries in Australia.
3. The agent moved and on the last statement received from the Treasurer's Office he crossed out his old address and wrote in his new address and sent in the statement and check for the taxes to the Treasurer's Office in a timely manner.
4. The agent also wrote the change of address on his check.
5. The next year's tax statement was mailed to the old address in error by the Treasurer's Office.
6. The agent did not pay the taxes.
7. The Treasurer's Office sent a certified notice to the same old address with the same results - notice not received by the agent.
8. Notice of sale of many taxpayers' properties was placed in the Times-Union as per state law.
9. The property in question was sold as per state law.
10. Also per state law the Treasurer's Office has a responsibility to notify the owner at the last known address, but failed to send the notices to the proper address that had been provided.
11. As a result of the Treasurer's Office failure to follow the state law, the property was sold without any knowledge of the owner.
12. Tom & Eleanor did have a responsibility per state law to pay the taxes regardless of the agent's failure to pay them or follow up.
13. The Treasurer's Office also had a responsibility to make the notification to the last known address and they failed to do due diligence to the state law in this regards.
14. The case was not reversed because my brother and his wife didn't learn of this tragedy until the time for appeal had passed.
15. The last fact that I share: My brother called the Auditor's Office prior to the deadline regarding an appeal, gave his name and new address in Sherman, Texas, and was not informed that the property was sold or that there was any kind of problem. They simply took the change of address down.
In my opinion, the Treasurer's Office personnel was negligent in their responsibility when it came to notification at the last known address. There was no dispute by the court regarding the change of address being in the hands of the Treasurer's Office. The ruling was simply based on the failure to appeal in a "timely manner." Now I ask you, how can you appeal if you are not notified?
Robert Huffman
Warsaw, via e-mail
Big Bang
Editor, Times-Union:The Sacred Heart Home And School Association hosted the Big Bang in the Sacred Heart Gym on April 24. The Big Bang Committee would like to thank the following local businesses who contributed to help make this a very successful evening: Medtronic, Zimmer, Downtown Eatery, Farmers State Bank, Lassus Handy Dandy, Bennigans, Coldwell Banker/Hamilton Realty, Lucas Realtors, Symmetry Medical/Othy, Century 21, State Farm Insurance, Petro's, Mutual Federal Bank, National City, Service Liquor, Ramada, Wal-Mart, Zale Drug, Owens, Rabb Water, Instant Copy, Marsh, The Paper Place and Applebees.
The Big Bang committee would also like to thank everyone who purchased tickets, attended the event, and volunteered to work. We are planning on this being an annual event and hope your generous support will continue.
The Big Bang Committee
Sacred Heart, via e-mail
Tired Of Tax Saga
Editor, Times-Union:I have been following the saga of Tom Huffman over the last few months and am wondering if anyone else is tired of his whining. Property taxes are a fact of life around here and installments are due in the spring and fall. If there is anything you can count on it is that you have to pay your taxes. I guess when Mr. Huffman didn't get his spring statement a few years back he must have thought that he had won the lottery and the county wasn't charging him that year. Come fall and still no bill! Why he must have fallen on his knees and thanked the tax gods for overlooking him this year. Next spring, no bill! Can you believe the luck?
I guess I should not make fun but it is about time he learns that no one is looking out for Tom Huffman but Tom Huffman himself. When the first statement didn't show he should have been tracking the problem down. If necessary he should have made a trip to the courthouse and straightened it out in person. I have dealt with the people in the clerk and treasurer's offices on several occasions and found them to be courteous, professional and very helpful. Who knows what the real story is here but even taking him at his word, he was not concerned enough about the property in question to follow through. You blew it, guy.
Jim Martin
Leesburg
via e-mail
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