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  Calliham property mysteriously missing from published tax sale rolls in local paper web posted November 17, 2009 EDGEFIELD – After public notices of property sales for delinquent taxes were published, an anomaly was found that demanded further investigation concerning the controversial Calliham property being purchased by Edgefield County. As it turns out, the county requires that the title to the property be free of any and all liens or debt. According to tax information obtained on Monday, that is not the case. In addition, County Council Chairman Monroe Kneece is said to have requested the property not be listed in the tax sale and Vice-chairman Willie Bright has signed up as a bidder on the tax sale for that day. A visit to the Edgefield County Tax Collector’s Office on Monday inquiring as to why the tax sale was listed in the Citizen News showing the James P. Calliham property being set for a tax sale on December 7 on the courthouse steps for $6,215.59 in unpaid taxes was published while the Edgefield Advertiser showed a blanked out line where the property was placed to be listed revealed interesting information. Edgefield County Tax Collector Linda Priest said, “(Edgefield County Council Chairman) Monroe Kneece said pull it. It was at (County Attorney) Michael Medlock’s office and we’re going to buy it.” Ms. Priest said she refused to pull the listing because the state law required the property be listed. Asked how the listing was removed from the Edgefield Advertiser Priest simply stated, “I guess they took it upon themselves to remove it from the listing.” Asked if that was a determination that could be made by a local paper advertising the sale she said, “No”. “We have to advertise all the properties in the paper,” Priest said. The ordinance, which states that the title to the property must be clear of all liens or unpaid taxes, is faulty if the information provided by the Tax Collector’s Office is correct. “The taxes aren’t paid,” Priest said. “They said after the county paid for the property the taxes would be paid.” That is not possible; as the payment to purchase cannot be made until the tax debt is paid prior to the sale. That issue brings in another factor whereas the county cannot enter into an agreement to purchase property that does not have a clear title. The tax lien is leveled against the property description of J. P. Calliham, although he is not the present owner of the property. Although some involved in the push for the county to buy the property may pay the taxes, the events to remove the listing of the tax sale and other implications cannot be adverted. Once the property is listed, no one can remove it from publication. The Town of Edgefield, headed by Mayor Ken Durham, who is also President of Edgefield Construction, is offering the town pay $15,000 to help the county buy the beleaguered property. A second reading on the purchase will be held today at 2:30 pm at the Edgefield County Council Chambers. If it passes a final reading on the ordinance will be passed on December 1, four days prior to the tax sale of the property for just over $6,000. The county ordinance states a sale price of $315,000 for property bought by Fletcher Lawrence of Greenwood, a relative of Mr. Calliham’s, for $50,000 at a foreclosure sale months prior. A nifty profit on property he knew the county wanted and the county refused to bid on. © Copyright 2009
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