(a) This section shall only apply in Lamar County.
(b)(1) All contracts for the sale or disposal of real property, tangible personal property, equipment, or other items owned by or under the control of the county commission shall be let by free and open competitive sealed bids. The chair of the county commission shall certify to the description and condition of the property, shall give jurisdiction in writing for the disposal of the property, shall estimate the value of the property, and shall keep the certification as a part of the permanent record of the commission. Tangible personal property, equipment, or other items owned by or under the control of the county commission which have trade-in value may be offered as a credit against the cost of property purchased in accordance with the Alabama Competitive Bid Law.
(2) Every proposal to make a sale covered by this section shall be publicly advertised for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of countywide circulation and advertised one time in a newspaper of statewide circulation not less than seven days in advance of the date fixed for closing the receipt of bids. The advertisements shall state a description of the property to be sold along with the date, time, and place of opening of the sealed bids.
(c) All bids shall be publicly opened and all bidders shall be entitled to be present at the bid opening in person or by representative. Any agreement or collusion among bidders or prospective bidders or any other person in restraint of freedom of competition, by any agreement to bid at a fixed price or to refrain from bidding, shall render the bids of the bidders void and shall cause such bidders to be disqualified from submitting further bids on the sale. Any disclosure prior to opening the sealed bids or the terms of a bid shall render the proceedings void.
(d) In lieu of the bidding procedures provided in subsections (b) and (c), tangible personal property, equipment, or other items owned by or under the control of the county commission may be sold at a public auction by public bidding once a year. The date, time, and location of the auction shall be publicly advertised for four consecutive weeks in advance of the auction. A list of the items to be auctioned shall be available in the offices of the county commission.
(e) All proceeds from the sale or other disposition of the property under this section shall be deposited in the fund of the district owning the property or the general fund of the county, if the property was owned by the county.
(f) Anyone who knowingly violates this section shall be guilty of a Class B felony and upon conviction shall be fined up to fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) and may be imprisoned in the state penitentiary for up to seven years.
(g) Any taxpayer of the area within the jurisdiction of the county and any bona fide unsuccessful bidder on a particular contract may bring a civil action in the appropriate court to enjoin execution of any contract entered into in violation of this section.
Last modified: May 3, 2021