Wood County commissioners have scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, May 28 for an economic development tax incentive agreement for the Wood County Economic Development Commission.

It is being requested for the rental property development planned on Cedar Dr. in Quitman by J.R. Douglas.

Commissioners heard a report from law firm Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson concerning the collection of delinquent property taxes.

Attorney Richard Brand said the firm has filed suits against 210 property owners resulting is 154 cases disposed and the collection of $660,000 for the most recent year.

He noted that the law firm collects its fees on top of the property taxes owed, so the county is not out any funds.

The firm does not like to file suits, he said, and most accounts are paid before there is a court judgment.

Property taxes become due Feb. 1 and begin accruing penalties and interest, but the law firm does not receive the accounts to begin collection efforts until June 15.

In three years the firm has collected about $2 million for the county, including the sale of 227 properties on the courthouse steps resulting in $1 million collected.

Brand said this year’s excess proceeds from those sales resulted in a rebate to the county of $5,600.

Collection efforts include a series of increasingly serious letters.

The firm has sent about 50,000 letters on the county’s behalf, Brand said.