City aldermen split on delinquent tax bid

A split Clarendon City Council voted 2-1 to approve a bid on tax delinquent property during the regular city meeting last Thursday, August 27.
At issue is a 1999 Oakwood mobile home, owned by Nancy Shapiro and Bryan Leeper, located on the north side of the city. Back taxes on the trailer house total $24,236.95 for all local entities, including $5,157.31 for the city alone. With fines and fees, the total owed on the structure is $25,362.46.
The Donley Appraisal District solicited bids to settle the back taxes and has submitted the lone bid to local entities for their acceptance, with the city being the first to act.
The lone bid was for $100 and was from Leeper’s son, Tim Leeper, prompting further questions from the city council, which ultimately approved the bid. Aldermen Sandy Skelton and John Lockhart voted in favor of accepting the bid. Alderman Doug Kidd voted in opposition. Aldermen Beverly Burrow and Larry Jeffers were absent.
Chief Appraiser Paula Lowrie said this week that the appraisal district has been trying to address the back taxes on the mobile home for a long time. The appraisal district’s attorneys made several attempts over the years to collect taxes dating back to 2003 from Shapiro, but they were unsuccessful in serving her.
The home sits on land owned by Bryan Leeper, and Lowrie said it was only recently that his name was added to the mobile home. She said there is nothing wrong with Tim Leeper bidding on the property since he owes no back taxes.
Lowrie said the mobile home was put up in a sheriff’s sale last December but received no bids, making it the property of the local taxing entities. She said Bryan Leeper now wants it off his land said the district has advertised unsuccessfully trying to sell the home.
“We would be out thousands of dollars to move it ourselves,” Lowrie said.
In other city business last Thursday, the council voted to submit a preliminary environmental report and assessment to the US Department of Agriculture to determine the city’s eligibility for grant and/or loan funds for water system improvements.
Aldermen voted in favor of engaging the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission to develop master parks plan for the city at no charge. The plan is a necessary step if the city wishes to consider applying for grant funds from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department next year. The master plan is expected to be finished in January or February.
The board also reviewed the proposed city budget. A budget hearing will be held September 24.
Aldermen submitted names in nomination for a steering committee to guide efforts of meeting a $500,000 challenge grant for the purpose of a water recreation facility in the city. Formal appointment of the committee will come next week.
Dockery also reported progress on possible grant funds through the Texas Department of Transportation to add a fuel facility at the Smiley Johnson Municipal Airport. Early estimates are that the project would cost about $48,703 with the city putting in about $12,000. The local funds would come from an airport CD, which holds money left from a previous grant that can only be spent on the airport.