Planning Committee Asks For Appraisals On All Property

The Putnam County Commissioners Planning Committee voted 8-4 Monday night to require an appraisal on any piece of property the county will purchase.

County Commissioner Cathy Reels said everyone needs to know the property’s value.

“I think we’ve just been buying property lately and not knowing exactly the appraisal of a lot of the property,” Reels said. “I’ve just had several people to ask me ‘who’s been doing the appraisals.'”

The appraisal became an issue after several commissioners expressed concern that two pieces of property surrounding the Justice Center had not been appraised prior to last month’s vote. Those pieces of land are along Spring Street and Broad Street.

County Mayor Randy Porter said he did not want to see the county waste money on an appraisal that might not matter. He referenced these two pieces of land as a prime example.

“It doesn’t make any difference what the appraisal comes back at,” Porter said. “Their bottom dollar is the price that they’re asking. They’re not taking any less regardless what the appraisal is. So, do you spend $4 or $5,000 to do an appraisal knowing that.”

In other cases, Porter said it would not matter what the appraisal said, the county has to have the property. Porter said he supports appraisals, but he said be believed commissioners should simply ask for one when needed.

Several commissioners said the two pieces of property were priced too high. Commissioner Kevin Christopher said again Monday night that he had priced one of the pieces earlier for his own uses several years ago at a much lower price.

The rule change goes before the entire county commissioners for a vote Monday night.