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Court tables surplus-parcel sales and authorizes appraisals, negotiation
Summary
Facing low bids on multiple surplus parcels (former golf-course tracts and other lots), the Fiscal Court tabled sales, authorized independent appraisals for each parcel and gave staff authority to negotiate offers and return with recommendations.
Franklin County's Fiscal Court on Nov. 6 chose not to finalize sales for several surplus parcels, instead authorizing appraisals and negotiations after multiple magistrates raised concerns that current bids did not reflect fair market value.
Squire Blackburn said he was uncomfortable selling county land without independent, parcel-specific appraisals and asked the court to obtain certified valuations before accepting offers. "I want an external independent appraisal of the five parcels," he said on the record. Other magistrates echoed the request and asked staff to explore hiring a broker to assist with negotiations and to consider nonprice public-benefit elements (for example, reserving options for affordable-housing projects or park-support proposals) as part of any deal structure.
The court approved a motion to table the sales, direct the judge to obtain appraisals for each lot and authorize negotiation with bidders; court members said any negotiated agreement would still return to the full Fiscal Court for final approval.
Next steps: the judge's office will order certified appraisals on each parcel, staff may engage a real-estate professional to assist negotiations and the court will consider negotiated offers at a subsequent meeting.
