The Starke County Commissioners approved a tax certificate sale for March 5, 2020.
The number of parcels on the sale is still in the discussion stages. Commissioner Kathy Norem suggested looking at a few parcels for potential sites for housing projects, possibly by students in the Building Trades class.
“One problem that we have had, and it’s been identified in our Comprehensive Plan in our community assessment, is we do not have adequate housing,” commented Norem. “So, if we have a parcel of property that’s buildable, why sell it for thirty-five bucks on a certificate sale? Why don’t we partner with the Building Trades class and use some of our CEDIT funds to buy the materials to build the house, let the kids build the house and then hopefully sell it?”
County Attorney Marty Lucas said the process is possible.
There are four sites that the commissioners will look into to be included in this potential pilot project. Norem commented that when the county applies again for the Regional Stellar Communities Designation Program, it will look good to the state agencies.
For now, the tax certificate sale is set for March 5, 2020 at 1 p.m. CT in the ground floor meeting room in the Starke County Annex Building No. 1 at 53 E. Mound Street in Knox.
