Sec. 22.6. (a) As used in this section, "abutting landowner" means an owner of property that:

(1) touches, borders on, or is contiguous to the property that is the subject of sale; and

(2) does not constitute a:

(A) public easement; or

(B) public right-of-way.

(b) As used in this section, "offering price" means the appraised value of real property plus all costs associated with the sale, including:

(1) appraisal fees;

(2) title insurance;

(3) recording fees; and

(4) advertising costs.

(c) If the assessed value of a tract of real property to be sold is less than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), based on the most recent assessment of the tract or of the tract of which it was a part before it was acquired, the commission may proceed under this section.

(d) The commission may determine that:

(1) the highest and best use of the tract is sale to an abutting landowner;

(2) the cost to the public of maintaining the tract equals or exceeds the estimated fair market value of the tract; or

(3) it is economically unjustifiable to sell the tract under section 22 of this chapter.

(e) Not more than ten (10) days after the commission makes a determination under subsection (d), the commission shall publish a notice in accordance with IC 5-3-1 identifying the tracts intended for sale by legal description and, if possible, by key number and street address. The notice must also include the offering price and a statement that:

(1) the property may not be sold to a person who is ineligible under IC 36-1-11-16; and

(2) an offer to purchase the property submitted by a trust (as defined in IC 30-4-1-1(a)) must identify each:

(A) beneficiary of the trust; and

(B) settlor empowered to revoke or modify the trust.

At the time of publication of notice under this subsection, the commission shall send notice by certified mail to all abutting landowners. This notice shall contain the same information as the published notice.

(f) The commission shall also have each tract appraised. The appraiser must be a person who is professionally engaged in making appraisals, a person licensed under IC 25-34.1, or an employee of the political subdivision who is familiar with the value of the tract. However, if the assessed value of a tract is less than six thousand dollars ($6,000), based on the most recent assessment of the tract or of the tract of which it was a part before it was acquired, the commission is not required to have the tract appraised.

(g) If, not more than ten (10) days after the date of publication of the notice under subsection (e), the commission receives one (1) or more eligible offers to purchase a tract listed in the notice at or in excess of the offering price, the commission shall conduct the negotiation and sale of the tract under section 22(f), 22(g), and 22(i) of this chapter.

(h) Notwithstanding subsection (g), if not more than ten (10) days after the date of publication of the notice under subsection (e) the commission does not receive from any person other than an abutting landowner an eligible offer to purchase the tract at or in excess of the offering price, the commission shall conduct the negotiation and sale of the tract as follows:

(1) If only one (1) eligible abutting landowner makes an eligible offer to purchase the tract, then subject to IC 36-1-11-16 and without further appraisal or notice, the commission shall offer to negotiate for the sale of the tract with that abutting landowner.

(2) If more than one (1) eligible abutting landowner submits an eligible offer to purchase the tract, the tract shall be sold to the eligible abutting landowner who submits the highest eligible offer for the tract and who complies with any requirement under subsection (e)(2).

(3) If no eligible abutting landowner submits an eligible offer to purchase the tract, the commission may sell the tract to any person who submits the highest eligible offer for the tract, except a person who is ineligible to purchase the tract under IC 36-1-11-16.

As added by P.L.169-2006, SEC.71.