Commissioners on late tax list

Talk about it

Two Lake County Commissioners were surprised this week to find their names on the county’s 2010 delinquent tax list released this month.

Paul Bergman and his wife, Janice, were listed for two properties in Two Harbors with unpaid taxes of $4,356. Paul Bergman said the county will get paid and it was an oversight as the couple struggles to get through the slow winter season at their restaurant, the Vanilla Bean.

Tom Clifford is listed on eight properties in Beaver Bay Township. He confirmed with the county this week that Evanna Judkins, also on the listings showing $11,070 in unpaid taxes, never filed for deed transfers on the properties he sold to the real estate agent in the 1990s. Clifford said she likely has paid her taxes in the past because he wasn’t aware that she hadn’t officially transferred ownership on the lands.

The Lake County Auditor’s Office said Clifford was listed because he originally sold the land on a contract for deed, making him liable for taxes until documents are filed showing a final full transfer of ownership. Clifford showed documents from 2002 looking to clear up the final details of the sale and apparently Judkins never complied.

Clifford said he would need to pay $600 to process the documents Judkins is responsible for.

Tags: lake county, money, news