8 Property Owners Nailed for Unpaid Fines

For the first time, the city of Kent will refer fines owed by eight property owners totaling more than $25,000 to Portage County to be added to their individual property tax bills.

The tax bill liens come from unpaid fines and fees assessed by the city last year on property owners for civil infractions, which range from property maintenance violations to building and safety code violations.

Bridget Susel, acting head of , said the eight property owners are the only ones who did not pay their fines in 2011.

"This is our only way of actually getting the fines," she said.

None of the properties were in foreclosure, Susel said.

"Only one of them had a tax lien, and it still wasn’t high enough to be handled in a tax sale," she said. "The others are just absentee."

In total, the city is asking the county to certify $25,130 in liens. Most of the property owners owe $300, but the biggest violator owes $13,776.

Kent Law Director Jim Silver said asking the county to add the fees as a tax lien is cheaper than if the city pursued the civil fines in court because it eliminates filing fees and other court costs.

"This is a very inexpensive way to deal with it and, potentially, at some point get money back," he said.

To see who the property owners are and how much they owe, follow Kent Patch for the next eight days as we show you the properties and explain their fines.