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Council considers raising sale threshold to let Pike buy two town parcels
Summary
Town attorney outlined an ordinance to raise the statutory local threshold used when selling property to abutting landowners from $15,000 to $37,500 so two parcels could be offered to Pike; council agreed to table final action for required notices and appraisal-related steps.
The Milan Town Council on an administrative agenda item discussed a proposal to change its local threshold for selling town-owned parcels to an abutting landowner so two parcels of interest to Pike could be offered for sale.
Town counsel (S5) told the council the change would implement Indiana Code 36-1-11-5 procedures and raise the local cap from $15,000 to $37,500 so both parcels would qualify for the abutting-owner sale path. S5 said the process would still require advertising, accepting sealed written offers and that any buyer would be responsible for appraisal, survey, title insurance, advertising and closing costs. S5 noted the average of two appraisals sets the initial offering price and stated their math at $17,332 per acre as an example of the appraisal-based starting figure.
Why it matters: raising the threshold would let the town use the abutting-owner sale route (often simpler than a full market sale) for parcels bought originally with grant funds and intended for Pike. S5 said that, because the town previously purchased the property with grant funds for Pike and the town has no municipal use for the parcels, declaring them surplus and using the abutting-owner statute is the practical path forward.
Council action and next steps: S5 recommended the council either pass the ordinance on first reading, suspend the rules for immediate final approval, or defer final approval to the March meeting to allow publication and notice to adjoining landowners. The council elected to table final action to the March meeting so staff can complete publication and prepare to open bids by the next meeting.
The council did not adopt the ordinance at the meeting; S5 said staff would return in March with the required notices, appraisal information and a schedule for opening bids.
