Auditor Mark Hoelscher will open his office Saturday for residents needing to file property tax exemptions.
Hoelscher received permission from the Wayne County commissioners to open the Wayne County Administration Building from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 18. He said some residents are unable to visit the office in person during regular Monday-Friday business hours.
“I just think my office should do something to benefit the taxpayers,” Hoelscher said, adding that two employees will staff the auditor’s office during those hours.
Commissioner Mary Anne Butters wondered if later hours — say, until 8 p.m. on a weekday — might be better. Hoelscher said Saturday hours would be more convenient for some residents.
Commissioner Brad Dwenger, who made the motion to approve Hoelscher’s request, said it was worth trying to see if the extra hours proved beneficial. Butters said it is a noble effort to reach people who can’t take time off from work to file their tax exemptions.
Signage will lead visitors to the auditor’s office on the top floor of the Administration Building, 401 E. Main St., Richmond. Other parts of the building will be blocked off to prevent access, and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office will be notified about providing security patrols.
Pursuing $30K
Butters and Dwenger authorized Steve Sorah, the county’s building commissioner, to execute a certificate on a U.S. 35 property to recoup expenses for cleaning up dilapidated mobile homes. Commissioner Jeff Plasterer missed the May 8 meeting.
The county and city of Richmond split the $30,384 expense to clean the property at 2800 N. U.S. 35, on the southwest corner of 35 and Salisbury Road. Palm Harbor Villages Inc. of Arizona owns the land after a contract sale to an incarcerated individual failed. Palm Harbor has been paying its property taxes, but it refused to pay for the cleanup.
Ron Cross, the county attorney, said he understands a potential buyer for the property has been identified. The county could release or reduce the property’s lien during the sale and pursue through legal action repayment from Palm Harbor.
Plan commission
The commissioners appointed Justin Scheiben to the Richmond Advisory Plan Commission.
Mayor Ron Oler informed commissioners they had an appointment representing the 2-mile fringe and requested Scheiben’s appointment.
A version of this article appeared in the May 15 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.