Burton Fox Inn in Limbo – Again
The auctioneer’s hammer came down on the sale of Burton Fox Inn April 20 and Ross Hornak was the top bidder for the dilapidated landmark, but he has yet to take possession.
The auctioneer’s hammer came down on the sale of Burton Fox Inn April 20 and Ross Hornak was the top bidder for the dilapidated landmark, but he has yet to take possession.
“I’m just sitting here and waiting. I have not been contacted by anyone,” he said. “(The sale) hasn’t closed. It’s the same as on day one.”
He bid $140,400 for the structure and more than an acre on the south end of Burton Square, a location steeped in history and full of Hornak’s fond memories.
The sheriff’s auction was set in motion when Charles Imars failed to pay his $38,000 in property taxes.
Geauga County Treasurer Chris Hitchcock sued Imars, et al., for the taxes in arrears and another $6,617 for assessments on the property at 14565 S. Cheshire St. in Burton Village, according to the filing.
However, Imars owes a lot of money to several other people so the remaining $100,000 is being contested.
Hornak, owner of TRI Excavating and Construction, has renovated other buildings in the area including the Lu Lu Tru salon on the square and wanted to get started on the inn soon.
But until the title transfers, it looks like the only activity will be from the raccoons and opossums reported to be living in the building.
“I’m not going to put another dollar into it until I know it’s mine,” Hornak said.
So far, he only had to come up with the buyer’s premium of 8 percent for the auctioneer, money that is refundable if the deal never finalizes, he said.
Hornak said he is waiting for the judge to decide who gets the rest of the money he hasn’t had to pay, yet, so the property becomes his.
Jennifer DeRenzo, Geauga County senior deputy treasurer, said her office is out of the mix.
“We initiated the original foreclosure,” she said. “All we cared about are the taxes.”
