Swanton mayor sued for real-estate taxes

9/1/2004

SWANTON - Swanton Mayor Tandy Grubbs has not paid the real estate taxes on his home this year and is in default on a mortgage, according to a foreclosure complaint filed by KeyBank National Association, asking to sell the property at sheriff's sale.

Mr. Grubbs owes almost $2,000 in real estate taxes on his home at 306 East St. Clair St. here, and about $40,000 to KeyBank, according to its complaint filed last week in Fulton County Common Pleas Court in Wauseon.

Mr. Grubbs said yesterday that the complaint stems from the bankruptcy of his former business, Tandy's Auto Supply on Airport Highway, which closed about three years ago. He operated it for seven or eight years, and had a business loan from KeyBank, he said.

When asked if his real estate taxes were paid, Mr. Grubbs said he did not know, blaming "sloppy accounting."

KeyBank sued Mr. Grubbs and his wife, Holly; Fifth Third Bank of Northwestern Ohio, the Ohio Department of Taxation, and the Fulton County treasurer.

Mr. Grubbs said Fifth Third holds a mortgage on his home. KeyBank named Fifth Third and the tax collectors in its suit, saying they may claim an interest in the Grubbs home.

Mr. Grubbs, a real estate agent, has been mayor since 2001 and was previously a Village Council member for eight years.

He was unopposed for re-election last fall, after his opponent, Scott Simon, dropped out of the race a week before the election.