At its most recent meeting, City Council tabled a bid from a Wyoming company on a property listed in the Blair County repository, citing concerns about the firm’s intentions, given its distance from Altoona.

A contact number listed for Hillsboro Inlet LLC of Casper seemed “questionable,” which cast doubt on whether the firm could easily be held responsible if there should be issues related to trash, trees or public safety with the property on the 2400 block of Walton Avenue, said Councilman Dave Butterbaugh.

Under state law, the county can’t legally require valid contact information from a bidder on a tax sale property, said solicitor Larry Clapper.

But it can block a sale based on other justified concerns, Clapper said.

Could the city find out from Wyoming’s attorney general whether there have been complaints about the company, then scotch the sale if there were, Councilman Erik Cagle asked.

Yes, Clapper said.

Such complaints could indicate the firm might be an irresponsible owner, said City Manager Marla Marcinko.

After the meeting, officials emailed the Wyoming AG office and learned there were no such complaints, Marcinko said Friday.

“They said they have nothing responsive to my request,” she said. Thus, council is likely to approve the sale at its next meeting, she said.

Hillsboro Inlet is one of five LLCs incorporated last year, all associated with the Casper address, and all buying up repository properties around the country, Marcinko said.

The company apparently intended to buy the Altoona property “sight unseen,” she said.

She has no idea what the company’s plans are for the properties it is trying to acquire, she said.

The company didn’t respond right away to a message left by the Mirror at a contact number provided by Marcinko.

Repository properties are those that pass unsold through “upset” and judicial tax sales.

As one of three property taxing bodies, Altoona can veto proposed repository sales.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038.