City misses out on buying vacant lot at tax sale

Municipality was outbid by $9,000 for property on Duke Street in Chatham

The City of Miramichi bid on the vacant lot at 183 Duke St., highlighted in red, in a tax sale auction on Jan. 25 in Bathurst but lost by $9,000 to another bidder. (Photo: Service New Brunswick)

The City of Miramichi came up short in its attempt to purchase a vacant parcel of land in the former town of Chatham at a tax sale auction.

During a discussion with city manager Mike Noel at Wednesday’s public safety and environment committee meeting, public works director Jay Shanahan said the municipality was outbid at the Jan. 25 auction in Bathurst for the vacant lot at 183 Duke St., in the Historic Chatham Business District.

Council voted unanimously on Jan. 23 to authorize staff to bid on the property for an amount discussed behind closed doors in a brief committee-of-the-whole session that evening. Shanahan confirmed with Noel that the amount was $15,000. The successful bidder ended up acquiring the property for $24,000.