BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON -- St. Lawrence County is hosting its annual property tax auction online, with final bids due by 10 a.m. on September 26. 

In total, more than 50 properties are on the auction block after the county took foreclosure action on them. 

The annual auction has been conducted online for several years now after the county opted to do away with in person bidding during the COVID pandemic. 

Properties in the auction this year range from vacant land to single family homes, commercial properties and multi-unit dwellings. 

Final bids must be received by 10 a.m. on Sept. 26 and Online Bidder Registration Packets must be completed prior to submitting a bid. 

Those documents must be received by Auctions International no later than 4 p.m. on Sept. 24, according to county officials.  

Bidders are encouraged to complete the documents well in advance to ensure bids can be placed. 

For more information, visit www.StLawCoAuction.com or call Auctions International at 800-536-1401, extension 111.

County officials are urging residents to ensure they carefully review all auction terms and property information prior to placing a bid. 

While county officials have praised the online-only options, saying it has secured more funds for counties and municipalities alike in recent years, some municipalities have pushed back. 

In the village of Massena, Mayor Greg Paquin and village trustees have been critical of the move, saying the online bids have forced out locals who may invest in the community by buying rundown and abandoned properties. 

In some cases, online bids have allowed non-residents to purchase properties that were in desperate need of repair, only to remain abandoned. 

Earlier this year, Paquin said the online auction has led to a heavy influx of absentee landlords, which has exacerbated conditions in the village. 

"Sometimes locals can't compete with online bidders, many of whom have never visited Massena or have any concern for the community. I think it would be in everyone's best interest to go back to in-person bidding but the county doesn't feel the same way," he said. 

Paquin acknowledged the move to host the auction online has helped to offset county costs, as significant hours are put into each property, with Real Property, the County Treasurer's Office and County Attorney's Office all playing a large role in getting ready for the auction. 

"It's a lot of work, we know that. But it's frustrating to see locals who want to do well in the community be forced out because online bids come in so much higher," he said. 

With roughly 55 properties on the auction block, county officials said that figure was pared down a number of times as back taxes have been paid and judgements avoided through legal activity prior to the auction. 

Each year, well over 100 properties are initially listed, with county offices working to bring resolution before foreclosure is necessary. 

County Attorney Steve Button previously told North Country This Week it was in everyone's best interest to avoid foreclosure. 

"The last thing we want to do is take these actions and be forced to send properties to auction. We take steps to work with those who may be delinquent on property taxes to get them caught up. In some cases however, we are forced to take action after reviewing the chain of title and finding no benefactors or property owners," Button previously said. 

In those cases, county officials are forced to take action to return the properties back to the tax rolls through a foreclosure process. 

In other cases, county officials carry out remediation efforts on long-abandoned properties, such as gas stations, garages and dry cleaners that have potential environmental contamination. 

To date, St. Lawrence County has remediated over 100 properties with assistance from the Department of Environmental Conservation, as well as the state Comptroller's Office. 

To view auction links directly visit https://www.auctionsinternational.com/auction/st-lawrence-county-tax-foreclosed-real-estate-auction-online-only-event-45736-45736/bidgallery/

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