County Officials, City And Town Clerks And Sewer District Reps. Meet
Posted
Staff Report-
Kosciusko County Auditor Michelle Puckett, Kosciusko County Recorder Joetta Mitchell and Kosciusko County Treasurer Sue Ann Mitchell, along with Chief Deputy Auditor Jaime Ladd and Chief Deputy Treasurer/Treasurer-elect Rhonda Helser met Wednesday with representatives of cities and towns and regional sewer district representatives. Those representing towns included Clerk-Treasurer Lana Wolfe and Shelley Helton, Town of Sidney; Clerk-Treasurer Tonya Conley, Silver Lake; Clerk-Treasurer Jerry Kreger and Linda Bailey, Town of Pierceton; Clerk-Treasurer Paula Kehr-Wicker and Kim Richardson, Town of Syracuse; Cindy Nolton and Jennifer Harting, Town of Winona Lake; Clerk-Treasurer Betsy Luce, Town of North Webster. Those representing cities included Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen, Kelly Geiger and Rebecca Jenkins, City of Warsaw. Representatives from regional sewer districts included Bob Marcuccilli, Greg Mitchell, Mike DeWald and Jennifer Ransbottom, Lakeland Regional Sewer District; and Pam Johns and Jane Bauer, Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District. The county officials presented information on the recording, certifying, billing, distribution of collections and the release of sewer lines. A flow chart was provided showing the five steps required to complete the recording, certification, collection, distribution of collections and release of liens, according to a press release provided by Mitchell. Recorder Joetta Mitchell covered the recording process and issues that can create the recording fees to be higher or the documents being rejected. Included in the handout given the group was a “Reasons for Rejecting Documents” listing, the release states. She provided the fee schedule for recording sewer liens and releases. Several in the group had questions reference specific issues with documents and their content. Puckett provided a timeline for providing the information to the auditor for timely billing and collection. She advised that even though documents are recorded, that does not complete the process to get the billing process started. The documents must be certified to the auditor after they are recorded and must be in the exact same name as the recording. Once payment is received by the units, they are to file a release with the recorder in exactly the same name as well. She noted that tax bills must be sent no later than 15 business days prior to the collection date which affects the billing for sewer liens. She explained the process for adding the amounts certified to the tax rolls and the subsequent sending of new tax bills to include those additions. Puckett identified the problems with collecting the sewer liens when mortgage companies are responsible for paying the property tax due to the early date the files must be pulled to send to mortgage companies, according to the release. Many times the sewer liens are not included in the amounts provided the mortgage companies and are not paid until the following tax cycle. She explained the breakdown of the four items that are collected in relationship to sewer liens including the amount due the unit, the added fees, the added penalties and the auditor’s fees. Mitchell shared information on the amounts that are collected by the treasurer and the process by which they are tracked for distribution. She emphasized that units have an obligation to file liens as required by law. She explained the impact those liens have on tax sale properties and sheriff sale properties. All taxes are to be paid current related to both the tax sale and sheriff’s sale. Units were encouraged to file their liens timely to ensure collection. Weed liens and nuisance liens also were covered indicating that both follow similar requirements. Mitchell covered the process of discovery during title searches and the problems it causes when liens have not been released. She shared information on the Kosciusko County government website at www.kcgov.com and the ability to track ownership and property taxes at that site under Beacon Online Mapping. This is the first of a series of meetings the county government officials want to be involved in to provide a venue to share ideas and knowledge, according to the release.
