By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — While one resident contends it is illegal — and Marshall County Treasurer Deb Vandemark says there is no real intention of doing so — state owned land has been advertised for tax sale.
In dispute are 11 tracts of land owned by the Department of Natural Resources that were once right-of-way land for the railroad. A company named Indiana Right of Way Corporation owned the land and back taxes are due from 2007. The DNR took over the land in 2008.

Joe Roush, of Hibbard, approached the Marshall County Commissioners Monday to protest the sale of the land, saying that it was illegal for Marshall County to put land owned by the state of Indiana up for tax sale.
Roush contended that if the land is put up for sale the county would be liable for repayment of all the money gained from the sale. He threatened to take the issue up with the Attorney General or State Board of Accounts if the sale proceeded, saying it was wrong to put county taxpayers at risk.
After Roush’s remarks, Vande-mark came forward to clear up some misconceptions about the sale. She admitted that the 11 parcels of DNR land had been listed in advertising for the county’s tax sale.
The taxes in question are from a previous owner of the property. The only taxes that the DNR would be subject to would be for drainage fees assessed. Vandemark said that it was her understanding of state statute that all properties with tax liens had to be listed in advertising for the tax sale even those owned by the DNR.
Vandemark said she had inquired with the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance and the State Board of Accounts regarding listing the properties. She said there was never an intent to actually sell the properties, but that the problem should be worked out legally.
Currently, Vandemark says law-yers for the DLGF and DNR are working on a negotiated solution to payment of the back taxes.