Sec. 16. (a) A county executive, acting jointly with the board of public works of a city located in the county to acquire grounds, real property, and interests in real property, by purchase or condemnation for any of the purposes authorized by this chapter, may proceed under IC 32-24, together with all the powers of eminent domain granted under this chapter.

(b) Before a county executive may purchase real property or interests in real property, by the county, jointly by the county and a city located in the county, by the county executive or board of trustees, as provided in section 11 of this chapter, or by the county executive acting jointly with the board of public works of any city located in the county, the county executive must have the real property appraised at its true cash value by at least:

(1) one (1) disinterested freeholder of the county; and

(2) two (2) disinterested appraisers licensed under IC 25-34.1;

who are residents of Indiana. One (1) of the appraisers described in subdivision (2) must reside not more than fifty (50) miles from the property. The county executive may not pay more than the appraised value for any real property and interests in real property.

(c) If an owner refuses to sell real property at the appraised value, the property must be acquired by condemnation. If a county acts alone, an attorney representing the county shall conduct all the legal proceedings necessary in the purchase or condemnation of real property. The legal department of a city and an attorney representing the county, if the county and city act jointly under this chapter, shall conduct all the necessary legal proceedings, without additional compensation, for the purchase or condemnation of real property.

(d) If a county acquires real property for any of the purposes provided for by this chapter or joins with a city located in the county in the acquisition of real property for any of the purposes provided for in this chapter, the county, acting by and through its county executive, or the county, by and through its county executive acting jointly with any city located in the county, by and through its board of public works, with the approval of the mayor, may sell the buildings and improvements on the real property.

(e) The net rent or proceeds of the sale of the building and improvements on the real property at a war memorial, if the real property was acquired by the county, shall be added to and become a part of the county world war memorial fund. If the real property was acquired by the county and any city located in the county jointly, the rent and proceeds of sale shall be added to the county world war memorial fund and the city world war memorial fund in the same proportions that the city and county contributed to the acquisition of the real property, buildings, and improvements, or the county.

(f) The county and a city located in the county acting jointly, as provided in this chapter, may convey any real property acquired to the state. The contract with the state must provide for the rent of buildings and improvements on real property, until necessary to remove the buildings and improvements, and for the sale of the buildings and improvements if the real property is needed by the board of trustees for world war memorial and other public purposes. The contract must provide how the net rent or proceeds will be applied.

(g) If a county institutes proceedings to condemn any real property or interests in real property or other property under this chapter, the suit must be brought:

(1) in the name of the county;

(2) by an attorney representing the county; and

(3) at the direction of the county executive.

(h) If the joint condemnation of real property under this chapter is by a county and by a city located in the county, the suit must be brought in the name of the county, as provided in this section, and in the name of the city by its legal department, without additional compensation, at the direction of the board of public works. The county, or the county and the city jointly, may:

(1) join in one (1) action naming as defendants the owners and all persons interested in one (1) or more tracts of real property to be condemned; or

(2) institute proceedings to condemn separate tracts of real property.

[Pre-2003 Recodification Citation: 10-7-1-16.]

As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.113-2006, SEC.8.