Purdue Brandon Felder Collins and Mott, LLP rep explains property sales for the City

In a previous City Council meeting, the Council debated accepting a citizen’s bid on a property owned by the City. However, due to the confusion surrounding the acceptance of the bid, Council tabled the issue and called in the law firm that handles those bids to explain the process.

Tony Fidelie, an attorney with Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott, LLP (PBFCM), appeared before the Council July 26 to explain the bid process. With more than 50 years of dealing with governmental collections, PBFCM is considered one of the oldest and largest law firms in Texas that represent various government organizations, including school districts, hospital districts, appraisal districts, special districts, cities, counties and toll roads authorities. In addition, the firm prides itself on getting results on collection matters such as property tax issues--delinquent taxes, which is a significant part of the firm’s role with the City of Olney.

“We currently represent 2000 different entities across seven states. There are 60 lawyers in the firm with 40 other partners. I’m on the Wichita Falls office; we have four lawyers in Wichita Falls and nonlegal assistance,” Fidelie said. “I joined this firm 11 years. So, this is all we do. We don’t represent private clients all.”

Fidelie tailored his presentation around its sister company, Texas Communities Group (TCG), and how they work with the trust properties on the tax roll.

Fidelie said, “In a nutshell, if you don’t pay your taxes, we send letters and make phone calls. Our goal is to get everybody to pay without litigation. But, sometimes, we do have to file lawsuits.”

After receiving the judgment, PBFCM sells the property on the first Tuesday of the month between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the courthouse steps. After the properties are sold, TCG enters the process to assist with property resales and provide code enforcement services.

With the process overview out of the way, Fidelie addressed the Council’s main concern about the City’s right to accept or reject bids.

“So once a bid is received that particular property stays active for 45 days as soon as on the other on the 25th day being closed. We don’t know who bids,” Fidelie explained. “All the bids get revealed, and we make contact on that first property, and then we take the funds from him prior to Council approval.”

Fidelie said there is a reason why his PBFCM accepts bid funds before receiving approval from Council, stating the process is long to wait for the Council’s permission. Then, if the buyer changes his mind, they have to undo everything they have done. For this reason, they accept the highest bid and gives the Council the right to either accept or deny it.

Regarding website bids, Fidelie said, as stated on the website, “Government entities reserve the right to reject or accept any and all bids for any reason. And under the law, [the Council] can reject it for any reason, as long as it’s not a discriminatory reason against what’s called a protected class. So, you couldn’t say, ‘we’re not going to sell to a particular religion, or we’re not going to sell to a particular race.’”

To view PBFMC’s complete presentation to the Council, go to www.CityofOlneyTx.com, or click this meeting link: https://transcripts.gotomeeting.com/?utm_source=recordingReadyNotificati....