Lots to probe in Madison County

Madison County’s Democrats figure an oldie but goodie is worth a replay.

They were outside the Madison County Administration Building calling for an investigation of the Don Weber zero-interest delinquent property tax sale allowed by Treasurer Kurt Prenzler.

The new note in this old song is that they said it should be coupled with Prenzler’s support for settling with victims of former treasurer Fred Bathon’s property tax auction scheme. Bathon went to the federal pen for selling delinquent taxes to tax buyers at 18 percent initial interest in exchange for campaign contributions.

Prenzler said settling is only fair when victims have waited 10 years. He also sees it as fiscally prudent when the county could face far greater liability at a trial with the defrauded taxpayers Weber represents.

County Board member Kelly Tracy, D-Marine, said Prenzler has shown a pattern of favoritism toward his political mentor, Weber, that she claims is criminal.

Well, an investigation may be exactly what is needed. It should be fairly simple to determine whether the Weber tax sale was legal or not.

And Weber’s allegations that Madison County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan, State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons and others within county government helped cover up Bathon’s sins should also be easy to prove or disprove.

Maybe we need T-shirts: “Investigate ’em all. Let God sort ’em out.”

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Lots to probe in Madison County."