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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

County Takes Land From Tax Protester

From Staff And Wire Reports

Kootenai County commissioners Tuesday agreed to take title to land owned by a protester who tried to pay his taxes with promissory notes.

Commissioner Bob Macdonald said County Treasurer Jeanine Ashcraft can now begin the process of setting up an auction to sell the four parcels owned by Gorden Ormesher, 62.

Ashcraft has said such a sale wouldn’t happen until September. In the meantime, Ormesher or anyone else with financial stake in his land can take ownership by paying all the back taxes plus next year’s taxes.

Ormesher last fall paid three years of taxes on the land with a $16,532 promissory note. Since U.S. currency is no longer backed by gold, the note - redeemable through a credit group in Indiana - is worth just as much, he said.

Ashcraft said the note was not legal tender and was worthless.

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