Commission approves measure to list industrial lots at appraised price

The Linn County Commission approved listing lots in both the Pleasanton and La Cygne industrial parks at the appraised price. (Journal file photo)

By Charlene Sims, Journal staff

LCJeditor@icloud.com

MOUND CITY – In answer to a request by La Cygne Police Chief/Planning and Zoning Director Zachary Mathies the prior week, Linn County Commissioners Alison Hamilton and Jim Johnson on Monday, April 13, approved and signed a resolution that allows the county to sell property in the designated industrial park areas of La Cygne and Pleasanton for a fixed price.

However, it wasn't until after Hamilton and Johnson approved the resolution that discussion about it began. Commissioner Jason Hightower was not at the meeting.

This resolution allows the county to sell the the lots at an appraised value.

Johnson asked County Counselor Jacklyn Paletta if it was appropriate for them to do that at Monday’s meeting.

Paletta said that it was available to the public since it was appended to the agenda ,which came out Friday, April 10, before the commission meeting on Monday.

Hamilton said that Mathies had sent to the county the 2002 road agreement that the county made with La Cygne for upkeep of the roads at the La Cygne Industrial Park.

Hamilton asked Paletta to elaborate on how the county would handle the agreement when the county is publicly notified of a problem with the roads. Hamilton said since there was a road agreement, the county should be maintaining that.

“I had spoken with Jesse (Walton, public works administrator) about the road as well,” Paletta said. “My understanding is that the road is being maintained so I don’t know if, perhaps, Jesse would want the opportunity to comment further.”

Hamilton said it could be brought up again next week because she had asked publicly for pictures and had not received pictures yet. She said the commission can wait on Mathies to provide the pictures of the road.

“We might revisit it again, because we have given them what they’ve asked for,” Hamilton said. “The parcels are available. This is what they can advertise for and we’re maintaining the road per that agreement.

“We will have to go ahead and get the appraisal per that resolution for each of the parcels that are for sale,” Paletta said. “But once we have that, then we’re free to list those for sale publicly for a fixed price, the same way anybody would list their home or their commercial business for a fixed price and, of course, negotiate whatever offer are received for those.”

“Are we going to be listing that with a real estate agent? How do we do that?” asked Hamilton.

Paletta told the commissioners that they could decide how they want to handle that. She said the resolution indicates that the commission will get an appraised value for each of those parcels and that they will be for sale at that fixed price from that appraisal .

Hamilton said she did not see why the county had to get them all appraised.

“I read the resolution, but why can’t we just show the county or the people that we have these properties available without a price right now?” asked Hamilton.

Paletta answered, “The resolution is to have a fixed price so that La Cygne can advertise for them. If you don’t have a fixed price, because it is county property your option is basically a public sale. So, you would put them for sale for a public auction. You would have a certain date and the public could come and the higher bid could be a dollar or whatever, that sort of a thing.

“These have been for sale for some time, these parcels. And I think that you were anticipating receiving bids and stuff like that whenever it first happened, and then you didn’t. So now, it’s kind of languished. So now, the statute requires that if you want to list a price and have a fixed price for them that you have to have market value. And so appraisal is an acceptable way to              to establish market value.”

“Does that have to be an appraisal or a broker’s opinion?” asked Johnson.

Paletta answered, “The resolution says that you have done an appraisal and the problem or purpose for the resolution is because it is county owned land and some of it is going to exceed the price, especially if folks buy multiple parcels, that sort of thing, And so the process is just outlined because it has to be in the best interest of the county, for the financial advantage of the county for the economic development, that sort of a thing. All of that’s kind of spelled out in the resolution.

“My recommendation would be that you guys get an official appraisal for all of the parcels that are for sale. That you use that appraisal as the appraised price, the sale price for the parcels.”

Johnson said so there’s a large parcel though. (Possible referring to the parcel at the Pleasanton Industrial park.)

“So, I mean versus breaking it down into small tracks versus …,” said Johnson.

“The ‘as listed.’ So, right now as the tracks are listed in the resolution there’s exhibit A that spells out what the individual parcels are. And of course, some of them are bigger, some of them are smaller. Therefore some of them are more money, some are less money” said Paletta. “It doesn’t stop you from then doing a lot split or something like that if somebody wanted to break it out.

“That changes the price of it then, is what I am saying,” said Johnson.

Hamilton said, “I’m fine with moving forward with an official appraised value. When we receive interest, I guess my question would just be, at that point, then we would go out and have a real estate agent represent us? Or is that something you would want to do?”

Paletta answered, “You don’t have to have a real estate agent. That’s up to you all. I am happy to do it. But what I am saying is if you want to list those parcels for sale your only option is to list them for sale according to that resolution after having gotten an appraised value. So you cannot wait until you have an offer to do it. In order to list them for sale, you have to have the appraised value according to that resolution.”

Hamilton and Johnson discussed whether to have Paletta do look for the appraiser or to put a bid out in the newspaper. They decided that putting it in the newspaper would be best and see if they get any interest.