By Brett Nachtigall

Publisher

HOT SPRINGS – A packed house filled the Fall River County Courtroom on Thursday, May the Fourth, for a Tax Deed Sale, where 60 registered bidders considered making offers on 15 different properties which had become delinquent on their taxes for several years, making them eligible to be sold to the public after the county took possession of them.

Nine different Edgemont properties sold for a combined $86,200 while six different Hot Springs properties sold for a combined $40,900. Fall River County Auditor Sue Ganje said the revenue generated from the sale would be dispersed in the same manner as the taxes would have been dispersed, which in addition to Fall River County, would include the school, city and ambulance districts where they are located.

The auction itself was conducted by Fall River County Commission Chairman Joe Falkenburg and saw each property’s bid start at $400, which was the abated cost of the back taxes on each property. The winning bidders were not responsible for the full total of the back taxes but did pay a $30 recording fee. The new owners of each property were issued a Quit Claim Deed from the County. An “Add On” Tax Hearing will take place after the issuance of the deed for purchased property to prorate 2023 taxes for pay 2024. This is allowed by SDCL 10-4-19.2 

Ganje said last week’s sale, which totaled $127,100, was by far the largest tax deed sale the county has hosted in recent history. The most recent sale prior to last week’s was held in 2021 and had just 13 registered bidders, compared to the 60 bidders last week. At that sale two years ago, 13 of the 14 parcels sold for a total of $55,100.

In 2020, Fall River County deeded 12 parcels to the City of Edgemont, and one parcel to the Oelrichs Historical Society. Those parcels were retained by the county and not offered for sale. One more parcel was deeded to the Oelrichs Historical Society this year, Ganje said.

In 2014, 10 parcels were auction off to a total of seven bidders. A total from that sale was not available.

Following is a listing of the 15 parcels sold in the public auction last week, along with their general vicinity, the dollar amount and who purchased them.

Hot Springs Properties:

1. Galveston Avenue – sold to Bruce & Theresa Flaig for $10,500. Parcel #75140-00200-010-00, Lots Ten (10) through Sixteen (16) of Block Two (2), Catholican Hot Springs Addition to the Town, now the City of Hot Springs, Fall River, South Dakota

2. US HWY 18, next to Big Bats – sold to Tyrell McFarland for $2,200. Parcel #75140-01100-001-00, Lots One (1) and Two (2) in Block Eleven (11). Catholican Hot Springs Addition to the Town, now City of Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota

3. Galveston Avenue sold to Bruce & Theresa Flaig for $10,500. Parcel #75150-00000-000-18, East Fifty Feet (E50’) of Outlot 65, in Catholican Addition to the Town, now City of Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota

4. Fresno Avenue – sold to Wally Cachro for $5,000. Parcel #75290-01800-009-00, Lots Nineteen (19) through Twenty-Nine (29), Less the S17’ of Lots Nineteen (19) through Twenty-Nine (29) and the E10’ of Lot Eighteen (18) less the S17’, Block Eighteen (18), Fargo-Prentice Addition to the Town, now City, Hot Springs, Fall River, SD 

5. Hampton Avenue – sold to Ingrid Sutton for $6,300. Parcel #75390-03700-004-00, Lots 4, 5, Block 37, Minnekahta 2nd Addition to the City of Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota

6. Hampton Avenue – sold to Randy Luallin for $6,400. Parcel #75390-03700-006-00, Lots 6, 7, Block 37, Minnekahta 2nd Addition to the City of Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota (Hampton Ave)

 Edgemont Properties:

7. Trailer House 6th Avenue – sold to William Ferguson for $26,000. Parcel #72100-00300-001-00, Lot One (1), Block Three (3) of Birdsell Addition to the Town, now City of Edgemont, Fall River County, South Dakota 

8. Lot next to Trailer House on 6th Avenue – sold to William Ferguson for $1,400.Parcel #72100-00300-002-91, North Twenty-seven Feet (N27’) of Lot Two (2), Block Three (3) of Birdsell Addition to the Town, now City of Edgemont, Fall River County, South Dakota

9. 210 6th Avenue – sold to Kerry Artz & Mary Beth Brenner for $9,500. Parcel #72100-00600-006-00, Lot Six (6), Block Six (6), in Birdsell Addition, City of Edgemont, Fall River County, South Dakota 

10. E Street – sold to Gary & Peggy Kester for $1,200. Parcel #72290-00800-005-94, The West half of Lot 5, Block 8 of Stewarts Addition to the Town, now City of Edgemont, Fall River County, South Dakota

11.  508 E Street – sold to Gary Sr. & Angelia Renwick for $7,100. Parcel #72290-00800-006-00, Lot 6, Block 8 of Stewarts Addition to the Town, now City of Edgemont, Fall River County, South Dakota

12. 308 6th Ave – sold to Nicholas & Trina Simunek for $5,000. Parcel #72100-01100-005-00, Birdsell Addition, Block 11, Lot 5, Fall River County, City of Edgemont, SD

13. Empty lot next to property above, on coroner of 6th Ave & Mogul Way – sold to Nicholas & Trina Simunek for $6,000. Parcel #72100-01100-006-00, Birdsell Addition, Block 11, Lot 6, Fall River County, City of Edgemont, South Dakota.

14. 610 7th Ave – sold to Barker Concrete & Construction for $10,000. Parcel #72290-12000-000-00, The South 79.3’ of Outlot “E’ Located in the SE1/4 of the NW1/4 of Section 1, Township 9, South of Range 2, East of the Black Hills Meridian, Fall River County, South Dakota

15.  39.82 acres south of Edgemont – sold to Gale Henry, Renee Henry and Jana Henry Bell for $20,000. Parcel #47000-01202-022-00, Government Lot Three (3) in Section Two (2), Township Twelve South (T12S), Range Two East (R2E), Black Hills Meridian (B.H.M.), Fall River County, South Dakota