Tax Liens Published

Today's Courier News had a six-and-a-quarter page list of property owners who are behind on taxes, sewer or other costs for 2012 or earlier. If the amounts owed are not paid before a lien sale scheduled for Oct. 10, the liens may be sold to buyers who may then charge up to 18 percent interest. The buyers will pay the amounts to the city, or to the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority if owed for sewer bills. Unsold liens will go to the city.

As always, the list has some familiar names on it. If you are the kind of person who grew up reading the back of cereal boxes or other tedious stuff, you may want to take a look. The list will be published again on Sept. 26. I had to fork over a dollar for a print copy as the e-newspaper version was too hard to read when printed.

The largest amount owed was $80,696.41 for taxes, Special Improvement District assessment and other municipal costs at 117-125 North Avenue. Readers may recall a Dec. 17, 2011 fire that caused the block to be closed off with a 24-hour police watch for weeks, shuttering businesses in the North Avenue Historic District.

Although the owner told city authorities he wanted to save the building, it remains boarded up and the rear has been open to the elements.

 More later on the tax lien list ...

--Bernice