Attorney at an impasse
Mr. Lueders: Thanks for taking the time to get the story on Sally Franz right ("County Threatens Little Old Lady," 5/29/10). I have spoken to County Treasurer Dave Worzala and offered what I thought was a fair compromise, but it appears that Mr. Worzala prefers a show of force.
Rather than discuss a solution to this particularly individual and unique problem, Mr. Worzala chooses to categorize my client as someone who willfully refuses to pay her taxes. As the record indicates, for over 40 years Sally has always been diligent about paying her taxes.
Unfortunately, Mr. Worzala appears more intent on flexing his muscles than working with us to resolve this matter. Unlike all the other individuals against whom Mr. Worzala plans to initiate foreclosure actions, any delinquency that my client has was the result of an error by the state Department of Revenue.
By willfully refusing to negotiate a compromise here, Mr. Worzala displays both a temper and a temperament that is dismaying to see in public officials. But it's my hope that at the end of the day we can still work something out.
Beth Cox, attorney, Town of Oregon
Problem solver
Many thanks to the clever person who laid out last week's Watchdog page for placing the solution to Ms. Franz's problem right in front of our eyes ("County Threatens Little Old Lady" and "Unexpected Windfalls," 5/29/10).
We would all be pleased and grateful to attorneys Bob Gingras, Michael Wittenwyler and Mike Short; Marsh Shapiro, Hans Sollinger, Paul Oglin and all the others on the "huge list" of people who have unclaimed property in the state Treasurer's Office if they would simply turn over $899 of it as a charitable donation to Sally Franz.
These folks obviously don't need it, but Sally does need her house. Forcing homelessness on an elderly person for someone else's mistake is in no one's interest.
Diane Walder
