Ohio § 1545.12

§ 1545.12.

(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, if the board of park commissioners

finds that any lands that it has acquired are not necessary for the purposes for which

they were acquired by the board, it may sell and dispose of the lands upon terms the

board considers advisable.  The board also may lease or permit the use of any lands for purposes not inconsistent

with the purposes for which the lands were acquired, and upon terms the board considers

advisable.  No lands shall be sold pursuant to this division without first giving notice of

the board's intention to sell the lands by publication once a week for four consecutive

weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the district or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code .  The notice shall contain an accurate description of the lands and shall state the

time and place at which sealed bids will be received for the purchase of the lands,

and the lands shall not thereafter be sold at private sale for less than the best

and highest bid received without giving further notice as specified in this division. (B)(1) After compliance with division (B)(2) of this section, the board of park commissioners

may sell land upon terms the board considers advisable to any park district established

under section 511.18 or Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code, any political subdivision

of the state, the state or any department or agency of the state, or any department

or agency of the federal government for conservation uses or for park or recreation

purposes without the necessity of having to comply with division (A) of this section. (2) Before the board of park commissioners may sell land under division (B)(1) of this

section, the board shall offer the land for sale to each of the following public agencies

that is authorized to acquire, develop, and maintain land for conservation uses or

for park or recreation purposes:  each park district established under section 511.18

or Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code or political subdivision in which the land is

located, each park district that is so established and that adjoins or each political

subdivision that adjoins a park district so established or political subdivision in

which the land is located, and each agency or department of the state or of the federal

government that operates parks or conservation or recreation areas near the land.  The board shall make the offer by giving a written notice that the land is available

for sale, by first class mail, to these public agencies.  A failure of delivery of the written notice to any of these public agencies does

not invalidate any proceedings for the sale of land under this division.  Any public agency that is so notified and that wishes to purchase the land shall

make an offer to the board in writing not later than sixty days after receiving the

written notice. If there is only one offer to purchase the land made in that sixty-day period, the

board need not hold a public hearing on the offer.  The board shall accept the offer only if it determines that acceptance of the offer

will result in the best public use of the land. If there is more than one offer to purchase the land made in that sixty-day period,

the board shall not accept any offer until the board holds a public hearing on the

offers.  If, after the hearing, the board decides to accept an offer, it shall accept the

offer that it determines will result in the best public use of the land. (C) No lands shall be sold under this section at either public or private sale without

the approval of the probate court of the county in which the lands are situated.