Auburn may buy Bernie Kosar's property

Auburn Township trustees are considering an effort to purchase part of a commercial parcel, owned by former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar, when it comes up for sheriff's sale for delinquent taxes.

Kosar is listed as the primary owner of 38 acres of commercially zoned property around the interchange of Routes 44 and 422.

He purchased the land in 1991 with plans to develop it, but has failed to pay taxes on the 10 vacant parcels, appraised at slightly more than $1 million, since 2005, according to the Geauga County Auditor's website.

Auburn trustees said they would be interested in obtaining a portion of one 10-acre, L-shaped parcel, which fronts on Route 44 but runs behind the township's existing Shadyside Cemetery on Washington Street.

The portion is mostly flat, but slopes into a dry ravine toward the back of the property, overlooking Route 422, according to Trustee P.J. Cavanagh.

"It would be the least complicated way for us to add onto our existing cemetery, and the best way to take care of that need far into the future," Cavanagh said Monday night.

Under Ohio law, townships are mandated to maintain cemeteries, but the state also has made it next to impossible to construct new graveyards, the trustee said. Auburn's two main cemeteries are not completely full, but trustees would like to plan for the community's future needs.

"We may need (an expansion) within the next 10 to 15 years," Trustee Chairman John Eberly said.

"How often does this kind of opportunity happen, with a sheriff's sale?" Trustee Mike Troyan added. "This might be affordable."

Trustees said they would not be interested in buying all 10 properties, or even the entire parcel adjacent to the cemetery, because even in a sheriff's sale, the cost would likely be more than the township could afford.

Eberly said he would like to look into swapping part of the parcel for township-owned land on the other side of Route 44.

He added that Assistant County Prosecutor Bridey Matheny indicated such a trade might be feasible, but that she recommended that trustees designate one of them to look into the possibility.

Eberly said another option would be to approach whoever purchases the property and offer to buy the small section adjoining the cemetery.

According to the Geauga County Auditor's website, the 10 parcels add up to 38.13 acres and are appraised at $1,003,400.

The owner is listed as Auburn LaDue LLC, with Bernard J. Kosar Jr. listed as primary owner. Kosar's mailing address is listed as a post office box in Nashport, Ohio.

County Auditor Frank Gliha confirmed Tuesday that the property is in foreclosure for back taxes, but said no date has been determined yet for the sheriff's sale.

"It's in the beginning stages of foreclosure that just started in July," Gliha said. "It's going to be a while before it goes to auction."



(news-herald.com)