Karnes County staff recommends auctioning 12 troubled parcels with 25% opening bids

Karnes County staff presented a plan to offer a group of county-owned vacant lots with defective or "nontraditional" conveyances at public auction, saying the goal is to return the properties to the tax roll. The presenter told the court that many deeds were prepared outside standard title processes and that the county would sell the parcels "as is, where is" with "no warranties, no assurances."

"We're handing this to you without warranties, without assurances," the staff member said, noting buyers would be notified of title issues in sale materials. The properties are largely small vacant lots in Farm City; staff said roughly 36 problematic properties were identified in earlier reviews and that 13 had been proposed for this round before removing one (T23) from the docket, leaving 12 for immediate action. The presenter said the county plans to advertise the auction and that the sale would be handled like other county-owned-property auctions, with a commissioner appointed to preside over the sale.

A commissioner moved to approve the sale of the 12 parcels with a minimum acceptable opening bid set at 25% of the appraised value; the court seconded the motion and recorded that the motion carried. Staff said the auction is scheduled for August 5 and that packets and newspaper advertisements will be provided prior to the sale. The court will include a clear disclosure about title defects and the absence of warranties in the sale order and will prepare deeds reflecting whatever interest the county holds.