The town of Wiscasset has been handed a default judgment in its lawsuit against Mason Station, LLC for nearly $850,000 in back taxes, interest and other costs, according to Town Manager Laurie Smith.
The suit against Mason Station, LLC was filed on Dec. 7, 2012 to recover $846,263.67 due to the town from taxes assessed from April 1, 2007 to April 1, 2012, according to an affidavit signed by Shari Fredette, Wiscasset’s treasurer and tax collector.
The town asked for a default judgment on Jan. 25 because Mason Station, LLC had not answered the complaint, Smith said. The clerk noted the default, the court later ruled on it, and now the 30 day appeal period has elapsed, Smith said.
Even though the town has already foreclosed on 76 of the 85 parcels of land in Wiscasset owned by Mason Station, LLC, the town now has a variety of options to collect back taxes including selling assets still owned by the corporation or attaching its liquid assets, Smith said.
“We’re going to consider all options,” Smith said. The most direct route is to try and sell the assets, including the former Mason Station power plant building and the equipment within it, she said.
Even though the suit ruled in favor of the town, the Board of Selectman could still issue a quit claim deed to the foreclosed properties if Mason Station, LLC pays what it owes the town, Smith said.
“I think they would be hard pressed not to say okay if they’re getting paid in full,” she said.
The 76 tax-acquired parcels have a total assessed value of $6,518,100 and cover 14.32 acres, according to town documents.
The town began seeking proposals for the development of the tax-acquired properties last summer, but no completed proposals had been received by the end of 2012, said Town Planner Misty Parker on Dec. 31.
Attempts to reach Mason Station, LLC for comment were unsuccessful by press time.
