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Monday, 15 June 2009 |
 Amador County – The specter of the Mello Roos default may have returned to Ione. About 200 parcels are on a list of Castle Oaks property parcels that are in default of the second payment of a Mello Roos/Community Facilities District special tax payment. Amador County Tax Collector Michael Ryan said he reported to the city of Ione that about 200 parcels were in default of the 2006 Mello Roos special tax. The Ione City Council tomorrow will discuss a staff report that focuses on properties owned by the developer, JTS Communities Incorporated, and other defaulted parcels in the Castle Oaks Subdivision. City Planner Christopher Jordan said staff prepared a letter to JTS partners to notify them of possible impending action against them. That included 99 parcels owned by JTS. Jordan said other letters would be sent out to individual parcel owners and homeowners. He said the defaults have occurred in all areas of Castle Oaks housing development’s Improvement Areas 1, 2 and 3. Jordan said the staff report in tomorrow’s meeting highlights JTS’s portion of the default areas, but focus on involved private homeowners will not be highlighted that way. A report prepared last Thursday by City Manager Kim Kerr detailed the notification of JTS and its partners and delineated the steps toward foreclosure. The report included information from consultants on Improvement Areas 1 and 2, which Kerr said “have reached the applicable foreclosure threshold.” Kerr said the “next step for these improvement areas is for the city to send letters to delinquent property owners notifying of their delinquency and of the commencement of foreclosure proceedings if special taxes are not paid.” She said the city will need to hire foreclosure attorneys before October 1st, in order to commence proceedings prior to that date. The city also sent a letter to JTS and its partners requesting payment and telling of possible repercussions. The Ione City Council will also be faced with the possibility of conflicts of interest affecting a quorum on the council, as three city council members, Mayor Lee Ard, Vice Mayor Skip Schaufel and Councilman David Plank all live in the Castle Oaks Subdivision. An issue regarding a parcel adjustment request in Castle Oaks came up at the last meeting, with all three potential having to excuse themselves due to a conflict of interest. Staff resolved the matter, to maintain a quorum of at least 3 of the council members to hear the issue, by drawing straws. Plank won the draw, but the issue was tabled. Story by Jim Reece
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