Sec. 29. (a) An eligible entity that wants to have all or part of a government building constructed, reconstructed, or renovated on land owned or to be acquired by it may:

(1) sell that land or building to a building authority; or

(2) lease the land or building to the authority for the same period of years that the eligible entity proposes to lease all or part of the building, and may grant an option to the authority to purchase the land or building within six (6) months after the expiration of the lease on the building if the eligible entity does not exercise an option to purchase the land or building within the terms of the lease.

If the option price of the land or building is not fixed in the lease, then the price to be paid for the land or building under the option shall be determined by an appraisal by one (1) disinterested freeholder residing in the county and two (2) disinterested appraisers licensed under IC 25-34.1, who must be residents of Indiana, and who shall be appointed by the circuit court for the county. One (1) of the appraisers appointed under this subsection must reside not more than fifty (50) miles from the land.

(b) A sale or lease of land or a building under this section must be authorized by resolution or ordinance of the governing body of the eligible entity, which shall be entered in the official records of the governing body. This authorization must be given concurrently with the authorization by the eligible entity of a lease of the building, or part of it, to be constructed, reconstructed, or renovated wholly or in part on the land.

(c) The deed, in the case of a sale of the land, or the lease, must be executed on behalf of the eligible entity by the officer or officers authorized by law to execute contracts on behalf of the entity, and on behalf of the authority by the president or vice president and secretary of its board of directors.

(d) Before the sale of any land or building under this section, a petition must be filed with the circuit court of the county requesting the appointment of:

(1) one (1) appraiser who must be a resident of the eligible entity selling the land or building and a disinterested freeholder; and

(2) two (2) disinterested appraisers licensed under IC 25-34.1;

who are residents of Indiana. One (1) of the appraisers described under subdivision (2) must reside not more than fifty (50) miles from the land or building. The appraisers shall fix the fair market value of the land or building and report their decision within three (3) weeks after their appointment. The eligible entity may then sell the land or building to the authority for an amount not less than the fair market value fixed by the appraisers, which amount may be paid from proceeds of bonds of the authority.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 19-8-4-15.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.86. Amended by Acts 1981, P.L.188, SEC.8; P.L.113-2006, SEC.21.