NORWAY — The Board of Selectmen voted Thursday night to put a seven-acre piece of land on Pikes Hill out to bid. The town took the land for nonpayment of taxes.

In a unanimous vote, the board agreed that a minimum price of $26,457.07, the amount of taxes owed on the property at 157 Pikes Hill Road, will be required. It is currently assessed at $48,600.

The property was owned by Christopher and Mary Buckley and was the scene of a fire in the spring of 2011. The blaze destroyed their century-old home and left the couple and their two children homeless. The cause was thought to be electrical.

Following that fire, Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey-Whitman notified the Buckleys that the property had to be cleaned up.

In August 2011 local excavator Scott Roberts began the cleanup after the town agreed to do the job and put a lien the property to recoup the cost,  because the owners failed to clean it adequately. The town had paid more than $11,000 to help with an initial cleanup after the fire.

According to tax information, the Buckleys owed taxes from 2010, with the last unpaid bill of $699.84 being due this year.

In other action, the board agreed to purchase a used dump/plow truck for $31,000; the money to come from the truck reserve account, which has a  balance of $88,000.

The board also notified Jeremy St. Peter of 671 Pleasant St. that it would take no action to seek a forced relocation or removal of a garage that was built on his property in apparent violation of setback requirements and before a permit was issued.

ldixon@sunjournal.com


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