(A) If a public auction is held for abandoned land pursuant to section 323.73 of the Revised Code, but the land is not sold at the public auction, the county board of revision may order the disposition of the abandoned land in accordance with division (B) or (C) of this section.

(B) The abandoned land offered for sale at a public auction as described in section 323.73 of the Revised Code, but not sold at the auction, may be offered for sale in any usual and customary manner by the sheriff as otherwise provided by law. The subsequent public auction may be held in the same manner as the public auction was held under section 323.73 of the Revised Code, but the minimum bid at an auction held under this division shall be the lesser of fifty per cent of fair market value of the abandoned land as currently shown by the county auditor's latest valuation, or the sum of the impositions against the abandoned land plus the costs apportioned to the land under section 323.75 of the Revised Code. Notice of any subsequent sale pursuant to this section may be given in the original notice of sale listing the time, date, and place of the subsequent sale.

(C) Upon certification from the sheriff that abandoned land was offered for sale at a public auction as described in section 323.73 of the Revised Code but was not purchased, a community development organization or any school district, municipal corporation, county, or township in which the land is located may request that title to the land be transferred to the community development organization, school district, municipal corporation, county, or township at the time described in this division. The request shall be delivered to the board of revision at any time from the date the complaint for foreclosure is filed under section 323.69 of the Revised Code, but not later than sixty days after the date on which the land was first offered for sale. The request shall include a representation that the organization, district, or political subdivision, not later than thirty days after receiving legal title to the abandoned land, will begin basic exterior improvements that will protect the land from further unreasonable deterioration. The improvements shall include, but are not limited to, the removal of trash and refuse from the exterior of the premises and the securing of open, vacant, or vandalized areas on the exterior of the premises. The representation shall be deemed to have been given if the notice is supplied by an electing subdivision as defined in section 5722.01 of the Revised Code.

(D) The county board of revision, upon any adjudication of foreclosure and forfeiture against the abandoned land, may order the sheriff to dispose of the abandoned land as prescribed in sections 323.65 to 323.79 of the Revised Code . The order by the board shall include instructions to the sheriff to transfer the land to the specified community development organization, school district, municipal corporation, county, or township after payment of the costs of disposing of the abandoned land pursuant to section 323.75 of the Revised Code or, if any negotiated price has been agreed to between the county treasurer and the community development organization, school district, municipal corporation, county, or township, after payment of that negotiated price as certified by the board to the sheriff.

(E) Upon receipt of payment under this section, the sheriff shall convey by sheriff's deed the fee simple interest in, and to, the abandoned land. If the abandoned land is transferred pursuant to division (D) of this section and the county treasurer reasonably determines that the transfer will result in the property being occupied, the county treasurer may waive, but is not required to waive, some or all of the impositions against the abandoned land or costs apportioned to the land under section 323.75 of the Revised Code.

(F) Upon a transfer under this section, all liens for taxes due at the time the deed of the property is conveyed to a purchaser or transferred to a community development organization, school district, municipal corporation, county, or township, and liens subordinate to liens for taxes, shall be deemed satisfied and discharged.

(G) Any parcel that has been advertised and offered for sale pursuant to foreclosure proceedings and has not sold for want of bidders or been otherwise transferred under sections 323.65 to 323.79 of the Revised Code shall be forfeited or otherwise disposed of in the same manner as lands under section 323.25 or 5721.18 or Chapter 5723. of the Revised Code.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 09-28-2006; 2008 SB353 04-07-2009