Okey Dokey pays off tax debt

By Emily Ford

eford@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The Okey Dokey & Co. General Store has paid delinquent property taxes, and Rowan County has stopped foreclosure against the store in downtown Salisbury.

“I promised (the tax office) I would pay them, and I did,” said Stan Williamson, co-owner of the business.

Williamson said he paid the taxes as soon as he returned from Texas. He said he’s never broken a promise to the tax office or failed to comply with a payment plan.

Tonya Parnell, assistant tax collector, has said the county started foreclosure action against the property owner as a last resort after repeated attempts for several years to collect delinquent taxes dating from 2007.

Williamson’s business partner, Bette Pollock, owns the building at 126 E. Innes St. She owed taxes from 2009, 2010 and 2011 totaling $9,600.

Williamson on Tuesday paid $6,400, which paid off the 2009 and 2010 taxes, said Janet Phillips, deputy tax collector.

The payment covered everything that was delinquent, Phillips said. She said Williamson plans to pay the 2011 taxes — $3,144 — before the bill becomes delinquent on Jan. 6.

Okey Dokey still owes the city of Salisbury $150 for a civil citation. The business accrued $19,000 in fines from the city last spring, but the total was reduced to $150 after Williamson removed 20 hand-painted signs from the front of the building.

Code Services Manager Chris Branham said his office has sent the Okey Dokey three reminders.

Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.