CARTHAGE — A Route 3 property will be removed from the village tax roll, the village of Carthage and the town of Wilna agreed Monday following a joint public hearing on the landowner’s request.

Andrew J. Simser petitioned the municipalities to have the 82.6-acre combined parcels, which he recently purchased during the Jefferson County tax sale, taken off the village roll. Since it is vacant land adjacent to property Mr. Simser already owns, the town and village boards both agreed.

Mr. Simser said he purchased the property, which is primarily swamp land, for hunting purposes. The tax parcel numbers are 77.66-1-1 and 77.66.1-2.

During the 15-minute public hearing, Lon C. Covey questioned the boards about his inability to have his Alexandria Street property removed from the village tax roll in 2009.

He said he did not return to the village board after his attorney, Lawrence D. Hasseler, cited a case from the village of Attica in which the attorney general ruled that the property could not be de-annexed because of fire-protection coverage.

The ruling said the property could not be removed from the tax roll since it was receiving village services.

Carthage village President G. Wayne McIlroy said that argument does not apply, now that the village no longer provides fire protection since the establishment of the Carthage/Wilna Fire District.

Town Supervisor Paul H. Smith said the Covey case was not relevant to the Simser matter.

“We’ll gladly look at your case if you bring it back to us,” Mr. Smith told Mr. Covey.

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