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Monongalia County to post health department property for sale with $6 million-or-75% minimum
Summary
The Monongalia County Commission voted to post public notice under West Virginia Code §7-3-3e to solicit bids for the county health department property, setting a minimum of the greater of $6,000,000 or 75% of appraised value and requiring a 10% deposit; bids will be entertained May 6 with possible action May 13.
The Monongalia County Commission voted to post public notice to sell the county health department property under West Virginia Code §7-3-3e, setting sale parameters and a timeline for bids.
Commissioner Secours explained that after years of negotiations with potential buyers, the board will publish a two-week public posting. Secours said the county will require a 10% deposit from bidders and set the purchase price at no less than the greater of $6,000,000 or 75% of an appraised value, consistent with the statute. "It's gonna be posted this week... It's gonna be posted 2 consecutive weeks, and then we can entertain bids," Secours said.
The move to post notice passed during the meeting; commissioners said they expect the board to entertain bids on May 6 and possibly take action at the May 13 meeting. Chair (S1) stressed that selling the building does not mean eliminating county public-health services: "We are not doing away with the health department," the Chair said, adding the county expects to relocate services without interruption.
Commissioners discussed four options they considered to carry out a sale — a change in state statute that allows counties to sell to private entities, routing the sale through the development authority, using the building commission, or selling first to WVU/W Hospitals then allowing them to re-sell. Secours said the statutory posting process was the most expedient option and that the county has identified potential sites for a replacement health department location; the RFQ for an engineering and architectural firm includes work to prepare a new location.
The posting sets the floor for offers and is intended to draw qualified bidders. The board instructed staff to publish the notice and scheduled review of bids at the forthcoming meetings. The posting and bid timeline are the next procedural steps; the commission said staff will continue work on relocation planning and related RFQs while the posting runs.
The posting was approved by vote during the April 22 meeting; the commission will review bids at the May 6 meeting and may act on May 13.
