Atoka council approves small-property sales and authorizes quiet-title actions to clear tax-sale parcels

The Atoka City Council approved a series of property actions intended to clear titles and return small parcels to private ownership or economic-use programs.

City Attorney recommended the city not object to an Oklahoma Department of Transportation surplus right-of-way sale along 13th Street adjacent to Buddy’s Handy Mart, saying existing city easements would remain and recommending consent to ODOT’s sale. The council approved the recommendation.

On ordinance 619, the council approved selling a portion of Lot 4 and 5 (Block 15) to the Atoka Industrial Development Authority for $8,274.05. The city attorney said the lot had cleared title after curative work; the city’s abatement liens and taxes are roughly the amount listed and moving the property to the IDA (and CEDA for other parcels) simplifies future resale and incentivizes housing.

Council also authorized the city attorney to file quiet-title actions to clear title on other tax-sale parcels that the city acquired following unpaid taxes and abatement liens. The attorney explained the state process that allows the city to pay back taxes to preserve abatement liens and acquire parcels before the county takes them over; for marginal lots the city may transfer ownership to CEDA/IDA instead of keeping the parcels on the city rolls. In one case the council approved selling a parcel to an individual (Amy Wilson) for $953.93, reflecting back taxes owed.

Motions on each item carried on roll-call votes. The decisions are intended to return property to productive use, clear lien issues, and avoid the county taking parcels out of city enforcement and maintenance authority.