Going, going, gone.
Four properties owned by Newberry County went on the auction block on Wednesday and all four were bought by local developer Billye West.
West purchased the former sheriff’s office building on Highway 219 or Main Street for $150,000. The property originally was sold to the county for around $1.2 million but a couple years later was evacuated due to mold and moisture issues.
The property was sold at live auction because it failed to bring $250,000 during a sealed bid auction or while it was on the open market.
The second property auctioned was given to the county to make up for a $1 million shortfall for the building of the new library. The 112 acres that goes from behind Lowes to Highway 34 sold for $330,000.
The next property sold was 40 acres on Highway 122 near Belfast Road. The land was purchased for the county to build a road to take traffic headed to a C and D landfill out of the Helena community. The property sold for $70,000.
West was then the only person to bid on the old Westview treatment facility on Johnstone Street and he paid $40,000 for the property.
According to the auction rules, West will have to pay a 10 percent buyers premium on the property. He was required to put down 20 percent of the purchase amount.
While West had to sign a binding contract to purchase the properties, county council must approve the sale.
On Wednesday at its 7 p.m. meeting in the Courthouse Annex the county council will discuss if they will go through with the sales.
The county will have to pass three readings of an ordinance approving the sales before they become final.
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