Cadott Village Board - Property fraud is becoming a big issue to combat

To help fund signage, now that more roads in Chippewa County are open for ATV/UTV travel, a fundraiser will be held later this spring, prompting Halfway Hall owner Rick Goettl to approach the Cadott Village Board. Goettl requested that ATVs be allowed on Main Street, for a few hours that day, which was granted. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

Something that Cadott residents need to be award of, is the growing threat of property fraud. Dishonest individuals mostly target vacant land, by sending out a mass email to a realtor and if the realtor does not verify ownership, they list the land.

Oh, darn, the “property owner” can’t make the closing, so they request the paperwork be sent to them. They then work with a fraudulent notary, who notarizes that the sale is complete and just like that, your property has been stolen right out from under you.

There is something you can do, as explained by Melanie McManus, Chippewa County Register of Deeds, at a Cadott Village Board meeting March 18. The free service, known as property fraud alert, has been offered through Chippewa County since 2012, but McManus is trying to get the word out, as more and more people are becoming victims of the fraud in Wisconsin.

Anyone can sign up for any title held for real estate. “And any time you record anything, you will get a notice from our office…it doesn’t stop that fraud from happening, but it lets you be aware of it much sooner…” said McManus.

To sign up, visit http://pfa.fidlar.com/WIChippewa, or call 715-726-7994.

The village board also heard from Rick Goettl, who is holding a fundraiser at Halfway Hall on Main Street, Saturday, May 11. Now that more roads are open for travel in the county, local ATV/UTV clubs need funds to put up signs.

Goettl agreed to host a fundraiser and wanted permission to have the ATVs travel down Main Street for a few hours that day.

“I don’t want to shut down the street, because I need it for car parking,” said Goettl.

Members also approved sending police chief Daryl Pries to the National Command Course in May, hosted by the FBI. Pries will be gone for one week.

“It’s actually quite a feather in our cap, for our chief,” said trustee Les Liptak.

It was also reported during the meeting, that things are moving along with Kwik Trip and the corner lot by Chilson’s is being built up, with soil compaction tests being done.