You don't need to go to small claims court to collect it, you can just take it from the last months rent in escrow.

@Jeff Manning At the county level, consider going to the source for this information which is the local courthouse clerk of courts where these records are stored. 

After his threats bordered infringing on my personal safety, I searched public court records and found that he has declared bankruptcy twice (this building was rented when I purchased it and the tenants came with it, with very little record of what dd was run on them) and the tenant constantly threatens to withhold rent for minuscule inconveniences. 

My point: if you don’t pay rent, if you violate contract, the court will usually stick up for landlord

We got a court ordered title for the vehicle that was left on the property we bought at sheriff sale...

If they don't then you will need to take them to small claims court if you want your money back.

(I went to the property the day we had the court hearing for the eviction and saw no trash on the land.

Did you compare their list data to the court records or did the people you contact say they were not in pre foreclosure?  

Check your court records, find out who the attorney representing the owner is, and work a deal with the current owner. 

If the city tries to fine you for something that’s in their control not yours, take them to court, great.