This past May, the city gave up all rights to McGarr Street, a paper street that fronts Grant Avenue.

It was transferred for zero dollars to John and Priscilla Flummerfelt, who in turn sold part of the plot of land to Rocklyn Supply LLC for $125,000.

The Flummerfelts owed the city $143,000 in back taxes on five properties as of the June tax sale, but the city entered into no negotiations or tax agreements with the Flummerfelts before giving up the city's rights to the “paper street.”

Did that make sense? Does the city normally engage in the practice of benefiting property owners who don't pay their taxes?

I would be remiss if I failed to mention that as a result of the $125,000 sale, including 60 feet on Grant Avenue that $567.91 in back taxes was paid for 6 McGarr St. and $19,484.72 for 121 Grant Ave.

These were paid on Sept. 19, following the sale of a part of both parcels.

The resolution presented to City Council in May did not include any input from the Finance Department.

Neither the comptroller, the treasurer, nor the assessor knew about the resolution until it was put before council.

No maps of the property were included, no appraisals were done and no recommendations from the assessor's office were given to council.

I question why normal procedures weren't followed in the light of the large sum owned to the city by the Flummerfelts, the direct beneficiaries of this transaction.

We don't allow people who have been habitually delinquent in paying their property taxes to buy property in our city auction.

City policy allows it the right to reject any and all purchase offers deemed not to be in the best interest of the city.

It also states that the city shall not sell to any individual, partnership or corporation that is delinquent within the last three years.

Why was this allowed in this case? They are still $123,000 in arrears.

Robert E. Hunter

Auburn