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HARTINGTON – The Village of Coleridge has filed a civil suit, seeking the return of property after the purchaser failed to start construction per contract.
The lawsuit was filed last week in Cedar County District Court last week against Venassa Sprangs and VS Nest House Home Revocable Trust, over property purchased for $2,500 at 407 S. Main St. in Coleridge.
According to a resolution passed by the village board, the property buyer was to construct a new home with work starting within 90 days and the completion of construction, evidenced by occupying the home, within one year. According to the resolution, if the buyer failed these requirements, the property reverts back to the village.
The purchase agreement signed by Sprangs contains more lenient requirements for construction - nine months from the closing date to start construction and 18 months to finish and occupy the property. The closing agreement with Sprangs is dated Feb. 28, 2023.
As of last week, no construction had been started on the property. In an email dated Oct. 4, 2023, Sprangs requested for the Cedar County treasurer to extend the deadline or in the alternative provide a full refund of the purchase price, and acknowledged building would not be completed by the timeframe outlined in the agreement.
Sprang did not pay 2023 taxes for the property.
When the Village of Coleridge was informed of the correspondence with the county treasurer, it issued a letter in March expressing its right to revert ownership, refused a refund and included quit-claim deed paperwork.
The letter was returned as undeliverable. Sprangs’ last known address was listed at Milwaukee, Wis., and the address for VS Nest House was listed as Denver, Colo.
Two emails were sent using the email address she used to contact the treasurer but there has been no response.
No hearings have been set yet in the matter.
