Board members heard competing proposals for auctioneering the sale of two county-owned properties: the Public Health building and the conservation office.

Steve Pearson, director of the Madison County Conservation Board, said the sales are part of financing the new conservation center; he obtained three proposals and narrowed to two finalists. Tom Bradley (Midwest Land Management) described local-auction experience and said reserves can protect the county's minimum price. Jason Smith (broker, identified in materials as DreamDirt/Dreambird in the transcript) reiterated statutory disposal rules (he quoted a county code provision) and said a reserve aligned with the appraisal protects the county.

Staff summarized contract differences: Midwest’s contract includes a $3,000 advertising allocation that the seller would repay if there is no sale; their written fee was 3% (with verbal offer to reduce to 2.5%). DreamDirt’s contract proposal included a 3.5% fee but the presenter said he would reduce to 2.5% if awarded both buildings and that the contract contains a "no sale, no fees" clause and includes advertising. Based on those terms and the appraisal timeline, staff recommended awarding both properties to DreamDirt and preparing a resolution next week to enter the contract.

Board members instructed staff to prepare the resolution and noted that the public health sale timing should account for relocation (the board discussed building modifications in courthouse space, HVAC and ICN node moves, and that public health and DHS need minimal office footprints). The appraisal for one building is still pending.

Next steps: staff to prepare a contract/resolution for the next meeting, complete appraisals and coordinate the timing of the public health move prior to sale.