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The absolute county auction has only resulted in the county agreeing to one land purchase.

On July 11, the county had an absolute, public and live auction and West Development purchased all four parcels of land the county had on the auction block.

After going into an executive session Wednesday night, Newberry County Council voted that the Westview building would be the only property that was purchased in the auction that it would allow to be sold.

The county bought the Westview building on May 10, 1976, for $70,000 and West was the only and low bidder on the property at $40,000. The building was once used as a treatment facility.

The sheriff’s building was purchased on Sept. 29, 2003 for $1.21 million and was auctioned off for $150,000. This was the second time that West was the successful low bidder on the property and the county council refused the sale. West also was the winner in a sealed bid offer on the property.

The 112 acres on Highway 34 acreage that was given to help fund the new library was appraised on Aug.6, 2007, at $1.24 million. It sold for $330,000 but the county council decided to not go ahead with letting the property be bought.

A tract on Highway 121 tract of 46 acres that was purchased June 20, 2005, for $132,365 sold to West for $70,000. About five acres was used to build a road. Again the council did not approve of the bid.

While the county had the right to refuse any bids, the winner bidder had a binding contract that they would purchase the property.

West Development was also required to put 20 percent of the purchase price of the property down in escrow the day of the auction.

The auction was advertised across the nation but there was only one live bidder against West on the properties and an online bidder that did not submit a bid.