Committee backs online auction to dispose of 22-acre surplus parcel on Joel Till Road

Hickman County’s public-safety committee voted to recommend that the full county court contract with Hudgens Auctioneering to run an online auction for a 22-acre parcel on Joel Till Road that the county has declared surplus.

Commissioner Keith Nash proposed the auction after earlier attempts to sell the parcel produced bids the county considered insufficient. Under the Hudgens proposal described at the meeting, the sale would be conducted online rather than as an absolute auction so the county could reserve the right to accept or reject any bid. The auction house would charge no commission to the county; the recommended structure included a 10% buyer’s premium that would be part of the total purchase price and a 2% broker fee if a licensed real-estate agent registers a bidder. Hudgens estimated advertising and posting fees would be modest (a $250 online posting fee and other advertising costs), and recommended holding the auction in mid-May to allow closing before the fiscal year end.

Commissioners discussed whether to impose restrictions on future uses of the property; staff said the county could include disclosures or reserve rights to reject bids, but a successful sale would transfer control to the buyer and any use restrictions would need to be spelled out in the sale documents. Nash said an online auction would broaden exposure, reduce the county’s role in picking a buyer and likely increase the final sale price. The committee voted to recommend contracting with Hudgens and to bring final contract language back to the commission for approval.

No purchase price was set by the committee; the motion authorizes pursuing the online-auction approach and returning final terms for approval at full court. The proposal will be presented to the county court as a recommendation from the committee.