EMPORIUM — Cameron County held its first judicial tax sale in nearly two decades on Wednesday in Emporium.
The sale marked the first of its type in 17 years to be held within the county, and nearly all of the properties that were entered into sale proceedings sold during the auction.
The process began with 52 properties that had delinquent taxes owed from at least three years prior, and none of the properties sold in the last upset sale held annually in September.
The list was whittled down, with five being paid or entering into sheriff’s sale proceedings. Notices of intent to sell were sent to 46 remaining property owners, and all lien holders and creditors.
Only 31 properties were approved by the judge after their owners were served documentation of the sale, with their listings being advertised in local papers in April.
Seven additional properties on that list were removed since that time, either because they were entered into sheriff’s sale proceedings or because their owners or creditors paid the amount of back taxes owed in full prior to the judicial sale.
Of the 24 properties that were opened up to bidding on Wednesday, 22 of them were sold to certified bidders, of which there were approximately 40 in attendance.
The majority of those properties were located in the Emporium Borough. Thirteen of the 14 Emporium properties were sold off, with one lone residence at 101 East Sixth Street Extension being placed into the county repository. The former Jasper Harris & Son location at 26 East Fourth St. sold for the opening bid of $2,015.77. The new owners hope that the building can be repaired, though they had yet to see the inside. All other properties were residential.
Two properties were sold in Gibson Township for more than $4,000 each, though the opening bids were closer to $1,000. One property used to be a tavern located along Route 120, while the other is a residence.
One commercial property sold in Grove Township, described as a laundry/service. That property sold for the opening bid of $735.80.
Seven properties sold in Shippen Township. The highest price paid on any property in the sale was for a commercial building along Route 46 just north of Emporium, the former Emporium Contractors building located at 1749 Rich Valley Road. That property sold for $27,250.68, though the opening bid was just over $3,000. The other commercial building for sale on the list, the former Furniture for Less Building located at 715 Sizerville Road, was not purchased and will be placed in the county repository. That building, located in the Prospect Park neighborhood, housed a skating rink and bowling alley at different times in Emporium’s history.
Residents wishing to bid were required to sign an affidavit certifying they were eligible to participate. Individuals were deemed ineligible if they owed any back taxes or municipal liens, or were lineal relatives — such as grandparents, parents, siblings, spouses or children — of the delinquent property owner, nor have entered into a business relationship with the delinquent owner.
In addition, properties cannot be re-conveyed to the delinquent tax owner; all these stipulations were made under penalty of law.
Successful bidders will receive a free and clear deed 60 to 90 days after the sale. The new owners are responsible for the 2014 taxes and for removing any residents from the property.
County solicitor E.W. “Tommy” Tompkins stated that judicial tax sales will be held annually from this point forward, and the properties that were entered into the county repository will be opened up for bidding again at a later date through the assessment office.
