Primghar, Iowa — (O’Brien County Bell-Times-Courier) — When the O’Brien County Board of Supervisors met earlier this week, O’Brien County Engineer Scott Rinehart and County Attorney Rachel Becker discussed with the board in open session about the proper procedure the county must follow to sell property.
Rinehart reported that an interested party stepped forward about buying county property in Sheldon on 2nd Avenue that the county rarely uses, but does lease out some of it.
Becker noted that the procedure is defined in Iowa code 331.361. The first step is for the supervisors to determine that a particular piece of property is “excess” property. She agreed to draft a resolution for the supervisors to study and vote on at a later meeting. If the supervisors determine the property to be excess they will set a Public Hearing for the public to give input on the matter of disposing of the property. The supervisors approved a resolution to hold a Public Hearing for the determination of specific property in Sheldon being deemed excess or surplus property. Supervisor Dan Friedrichsen asked Rinehart point-blank, “Is that property excess?” Rinehart’s affirmative reply was immediate and emphatic.
It was noted that the county has no abstract to the property. County Auditor Barb Rohwer reported that an abstract will cost from $400 – $600 to acquire. The property came from the Iowa Department of Transportation in the 1990s and was transferred by patent in 2008. There is no deed at this time.
If the property is declared surplus following the Public Hearing September 10 at 9:15am in the board room, the supervisors may determine a method of sale to dispose of the property.
Aerial photos of the property involved……………………
Story and photos courtesy of our News Partner, The O’Brien County Bell-Times-Courier
