BENTONVILLE -- Benton County officials say they're pleased with the high bid on the old Community Development Building and may proceed with the sale.
"We'll have to review the documents and make sure everything is in order," County Judge Barry Moehring said.
The county advertised the building for sale by sealed bid and opened the two bids received by Friday's deadline. The high bid of $501,500 was submitted by Dr. Doug Rinehart of Bentonville, through a real estate company. Dale Bailey of Bentonville submitted a bid of $325,501.99 for the 3,945-square-foot building, which is on a half-acre lot at 905 N.W. Eighth St. in Bentonville.
The building formerly housed the county's Planning Division, Building Division and Environmental Safety Division. Those offices moved to the county's Public Services Building near the Road Department and Sheriff's Office on S.W. 14th Street. That building also houses the Public Defender, Veterans Services and Cooperative Extension offices.
As part of the sale process the county assessor's office appraised the building at $546,689. Brenda Guenther, comptroller, said state law governing the sale of county property valued at more than $2,000 requires an appraisal and that the county receive no less than 75 percent of the appraised value of the property. Guenther said 75 percent of the appraised value of the building would be roughly $410,000 so the higher bid met that threshold.
Bryan Beeson, the county's facilities administrator, said the building was constructed in the early 1990s for use as a medical clinic and office. The building was donated to the county in 2004 by the Robert L. Bogle Trust.
Guenther said the county included $475,000 from the sale of the building in the county's 2018 budget. The money will go into the county's general fund, Guenther said.
She said the next step will be to have the county's Board of Approval consider the sale. Under state law, each county has a board made up of the county judge as presiding officer, along with the sheriff, treasurer and circuit clerk. The county judge does not vote.
NW News on 09/10/2018