Treasurer outlines options to collect unpaid tax

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Jasper County Treasurer Doug Bishop is wanting everyone to pay their fair share of taxes.

During Tuesday’s Jasper County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, Bishop gave an update on the 2009 tax sale and had good news. Only $5,069 remain in unpaid taxes for the 2009 fiscal year compared to more than a half million that was unpaid before the tax sale.

Bishop said his office found that mobile homes accounted for 81 percent of the unpaid/unclaimed taxes. The treasurer said his office has been taking several steps to help individuals who cannot pay their taxes get help but is considering taking further action against individuals who simply won’t.

“We’re not after the people that can’t pay. We just want to make sure those who can will,” Bishop said following the board meeting.

To help encourage mobile home owners to pay their delinquent taxes Bishop said he may turn to the law. According to Iowa Code 321-30 J, the treasurer’s office has the right to put a hold on someone’s driver’s license and motor vehicle registration if they fail to pay taxes on their mobile homes.

“Before this would happen, we make every effort to help anyone that we can,” Bishop said.

Help includes tax credits and assistance for elderly, disabled and low income residents living in mobile homes. Bishop said individuals who would be at risk for losing their motor vehicle registration would receive a letter of notice and if they took steps to contact the treasurer’s office and make a payment plan they would not lose their registration.

Bishop said his office is not going to begin this policy yet but wanted to make the supervisors aware of the possibility. The treasurer also noted that several treasurers in the state of Iowa have begun this program and received great response.

“We’re not trying to pick on anyone,” Bishop said. “The issue is we have folks that simply won’t pay. They refuse.”

The old Jasper County Care Facility is one step closer to its demise.

During the meeting, supervisor John Parsons shared with board members bids he received after contacting two asbestos inspection companies to inspect the care facility building and the building under the water tower.

“This building is not going to sell,” said Parsons. Adding that the county has to take steps to demolish the building.

Parsons received only one bid for the inspection from Ames Environmental Inc. located in Slater. AEI offered two prices for the inspection — $4,580 for an inspection to take place before Sept. 1 or $4,180 for an inspection after Sept. 1. Supervisors unanimously agreed to save $400 and went with the lower bid.

In other business, the supervisors:
• Approved a resolution to support the Iowa Department of Transportation plans to create a J-turn intersection at Highway 330 and County Road F-17. The DOT will construct a frontage road and the county will then accept responsibility for maintenance of the road.

• Approved the appointment of Jasper County Deputy Sheriff Josh Britton.

• Approved a liquor license for Baxter Fun Days.