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Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009

County auction nets $49,000

The sale of long-dormant properties, some of them run-down, returned a profit of about $49,000 to Bibb County government, officials said.

August’s auction of 327 lots also lays the groundwork for neighborhood improvements and a stronger tax base, said Steve Layson, the county’s chief administrative officer. The lots typically were seized decades ago by the sheriff, putting them into the county government’s possession.

“It’s always nice to make a little money on a venture like this, but our goal was to break even, so that was a pleasant surprise,” he said. “But even if it cost us a little bit of money, the goals were getting it back on the tax rolls and getting it back to the communities.”

Some of the properties won’t immediately generate tax money but could boost neighborhoods. Mount Haven Baptist Church bought six lots for just $2,970 and will use some of the land for a planned church expansion, said Sylvester Tharpe, a deacon. The church, a few blocks from Ballard-Hudson Middle School, likely will sell wooded house lots on Stephens and Fletcher streets that aren’t adjacent to the church properties.

Tharpe said the neighborhood likely will benefit.

Kevin Brown, the Macon attorney who orchestrated the sale, said his first involvement with the sheriff’s sale was 12 years ago. This week, he gave the County Commission an oversized check for $200,073.69, which represented the proceeds from the sales. Bibb County Commission Chairman Sam Hart quipped, “We stand ready to receive.”

County Finance Director Deborah Martin said the county spent $151,088.31 to sell the properties. The county’s profit is just shy of $49,000.

The work isn’t done, however. Brown told commissioners that overwhelmed clerks still are processing about 100 deeds from the August auction.

To contact writer Mike Stucka, call 744-4251.