By DAVE SCHULTZ
Four properties were put back on the Bluffton tax rolls Tuesday night.
The city, acting through the Bluffton Redevelopment Commission, sold four parcels that it had acquired when they did not sell at tax sales. The properties — on Morgan, Miller, Market, and Indiana streets — were sold by the RDC during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Bluffton Common Council.
Three of the properties were sold to BCG Capital for $5,000 each — 328 N. Morgan St., 927 W. Market St., and 517 Indiana St. The fourth property, at 404 W. Miller St., was purchased by Barkley Properties for $12,500.
The city acquired ownership of the properties when they did not sell at a Wells County tax sale. The county then turned the parcels over to the most immediate jurisdiction, which was the city.
State law forbids the city from selling property for less than the average of two appraisals, and none of the properties attracted any interest at that price. By turning them over to the RDC, however, the minimum price regulation went away.
Tuesday’s sale were closed bids on each property. BCG submitted a flat $5,000 bid on all four properties while Barkley had the highest bid on the remaining site.
The vote to approve the sale was 4-0, with Josh Hunt, Rick Elwell, Scott Mentzer, and Janella Stronczek all voting in favor. The fifth council member, Chandler Gerber, abstained because his brother is associated with BCG Capital.
The money raised will go into the city’s General Fund.
daves@news-banner.com
