‘People wanted to buy property’- Dennis Potter, Clerk & Master

Joe Coker, Delinquent Tax Attorney, left, and Clerk & Master Dennis Potter at Friday’s auction.

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – History was made at Friday’s annual delinquent property tax auction hosted by Clerk & Master Dennis Potter and his staff. The lower courtroom at the Campbell County Courthouse was standing room only with a crowd of right at 100 in attendance.

“Every piece of property that was on the block sold. That was all 49 parcels. Several mineral interests didn’t sell,” said Clerk & Master Dennis Potter.

Deputies Russ Petitt, left, and Gary Marcum check in those who want to take part in the auction and share the rules of the auction.

“There are more people here than parcels. That’s a first,” said Joe Coker, Delinquent Tax Attorney.

Joe Coker, left, and Dennis Potter talk outside the courtroom right before the 9am auction begins.

“My staff did an outstanding job, and ran a great auction to perfection. Everything balanced. It was so smooth,” said Potter. The auction began at 9am, and everything was wrapped up before 3pm. “That’s the earliest finish in all my 10 years as clerk and master,” said Potter.

Sitting in pews, on the floor and standing were the only ways for everyone to get into the courtroom.

Potter pointed out that his staff works year round preparing for this auction. Friday’s sale was for the tax year 2021 and any previous outstanding years. Given that, the Clerk & Master staff has already started on tax year 2022. “This sale takes a long time to organize, and there’s just no down time as a result. You have to remember that that’s in addition to handling the Chancery Court  and keeping and executing dockets, filing and entering documents, pleadings, papers and exhibits, and more.

In no time, the annual auction heated up.

Time will tell how long it will be before history is made again in the annual delinquent property tax auction. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/13/2024-6AM)

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