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Marion County Land Bank approves 90-day $50,000 listing for 8.33-acre parcel near Poor Farm Cemetery
Summary
The Marion County Land Bank voted at a special meeting to list an 8.33-acre parcel adjacent to the Poor Farm Cemetery with Lyle Lepke Real Estate for a 90-day listing at $50,000; staff will publish a 30-day notice and accept applications from interested buyers.
The Marion County Land Bank voted at a special board meeting to list an 8.33-acre county-owned parcel adjacent to the Poor Farm Cemetery for $50,000 on a 90-day listing and authorized the administrator to sign the listing agreement.
Board members discussed site constraints and market context before the vote. Participants noted two different acreages cited in the meeting (about 8.8 acres vs. 8.33 acres) and said staff will verify the exact survey figures before finalizing sale documents. The board reviewed Land Bank procedures requiring prospective buyers to complete an application and said the body can consider factors beyond price when evaluating offers.
Members described the parcel as relatively flat and low-lying with mature cottonwoods and elms, limited road and utility access, and two small, deteriorated concrete outbuildings on the site. Those conditions influenced the pricing discussion: members compared small nearby sales and estimated that smaller parcels without utilities or a gravel road typically bring lower per-acre values than larger, developed tracts.
A local realtor present described marketing options and online exposure through the MLS and third-party portals, recommending extra time on market to ensure listings appear across sites. After debating listing versus auction strategies and considering advertising costs, the board settled on a conventional listing for 90 days at $50,000 with Lyle Lepke Real Estate as listing agent.
The board also reviewed draft sale documents. Members agreed to publish the required notice of sale in the local newspaper and to notify adjoining landowners at least 30 days before a completed sale, and they directed that the application materials be routed to the county office for processing. The board deferred approval of minutes from its previous meeting to the next regular session and then adjourned the special meeting.
Next steps: staff will verify acreage and utility information, finalize the notice and application materials, publish the 30-day notice with contact information for the listing agent, and post the listing for a 90-day period to solicit offers.
