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BY Dollita Okine, 12:33pm January 15, 2025,

Trenton man says city is cheating him as he fights to keep street he accidentally bought at auction for $5K

by Dollita Okine, 12:33pm January 15, 2025,
Photo: WCPO

Jason Fauntleroy is crying foul as Trenton tries to reclaim a land he purchased. Three years ago, Fauntleroy paid roughly $5,000 at an auction held by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office to purchase an empty lot near Trenton, Ohio, intending to construct a house on it.

Interestingly, he walked away from the auction with the ownership of the whole Bloomfield Court street as well as his plot. In October 2024, the city of Trenton started the process of reclaiming the land through eminent domain.

However, Fauntleroy said he isn’t receiving the full amount of compensation he is due, adding that only the lot was evaluated instead of the entire property, which includes the street.

He described his encounters with the city of Trenton as a “nightmare.”

Fauntleroy told WCPO last month, “They shut me out. They blocked my calls. It’s hard to even get through anybody.”

Marcos Nichols, the municipal manager for Trenton, told the outlet that Fauntleroy’s conduct and heated discussions were the cause of the city’s measures.

He said it was unclear how Fauntleroy was able to buy the street in the first place.

“I’m not sure how that occurs other than it was a private drive that was created through a homeowner’s association. The homeowner’s association was responsible for maintaining that property and upkeeping it,” Nichols said.

When questioned why only a fraction of the lot was assessed, Nichols was unable to explain.

He responded, “I cannot speak to the appraised value.” According to him, the city’s goal is to convert the private drive into a public roadway so that the city can be responsible for maintaining it.

Nonetheless, Fauntleroy demands what he is entitled to.

He urged the city to “treat people fair; do honest work. Don’t just take advantage of someone because they don’t have the means of getting an attorney.”

Last Edited by:Mildred Europa Taylor Updated: January 15, 2025

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