All county real property shall be managed by the board of county commissioners and by the elected and appointed officers therein, and held, used, leased, licensed and sold pursuant to this chapter and the laws of the state of Washington.
(Ord. 1331 (Exh. A), 2021)
Whenever it is determined that in the best interest of Lewis County and the people thereof that any part or parcel of property, whether real, personal, or mixed, belonging to the county and capable of being disposed of pursuant to Chapter 36.34 RCW, should be sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of, the county may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of and convey such property under the limitations and restrictions and in the manner hereinafter provided.
(Ord. 1331 (Exh. A), 2021)
Except as provided by this chapter, all dispositions of property shall be authorized by the board of county commissioners. The board shall set a minimum sale price based on the fair market value of the property.
The employees of the county who are involved in the inventorying and disposing of county real property, as designated by management, and members of their immediate families, as that term is defined in this chapter, shall be prevented from purchasing real property.
(Ord. 1331 (Exh. A), 2021)
(1) 
The board shall advertise the sale of property in a manner most appropriate to effect an advantageous sale. Real property may be sold at a public sale following publication of a notice in a legal newspaper of general circulation at least once a week for two consecutive weeks, the first notice to appear no less than 10 calendar days prior to the date of sale. No notice of sale shall be required for sale to a governmental agency. Where the board has determined an emergency exists, such reasonable notice as is commensurate with the fact of the emergency shall be given for the purpose of providing the public with knowledge of the sale and to establish value. Such notice may include notification of appropriate segments of the press and telephonic communication with potential purchaser.
(2) 
An advertisement of sale shall in the case of real property describe the property by both its legal description and street address, if any, or if none, by a vicinity description. If real property is offered for sale on other than a cash basis, the terms must be stated in the advertisement.
(3) 
The board may list property for sale with a broker who deals in that kind of property, and who has all licenses required by law. Within such period of time as the board may specify, the broker shall submit to the board all written offers to purchase all or any portion of the listed property. The board may accept any offer it determines is in the best interest of the county, even if the offer does not represent the highest monetary return of the offers submitted. The board may reject all offers. Final action selling the property shall be taken at a public meeting.
(Ord. 1331 (Exh. A), 2021)
(1) 
All sales of real county property shall be made to the highest responsible bidder at public sale except when:
(a) 
Sold to a governmental agency;
(b) 
The board has determined an emergency to exist;
(c) 
County real property is traded for real property of equal or greater value; or
(d) 
A parcel of no more than one-half acre of real property, which in and of itself would have little value because of its size or its shape, may be sold at fair market value to an owner of adjoining property. If, according to the records of the county assessor, more than one person owns adjoining property, the board shall send notice to all such owners informing them a sale of the county property is being considered, and inviting them to send the board a notice of their interest in purchasing the property. If more than one owner sends notice of interest in purchasing the property within 15 days of the date of the board's notice, the board shall sell the property only by sealed bids of owners who have given notice of interest in purchasing the property.
(2) 
The board may, if it deems such action to be for the best public interest, reject any and all bids/offers, either written or oral, and withdraw the property from sale.
(3) 
Where there is no bid/offer within advertised terms for the advertised minimum value, the county may withdraw the property from sale and thereafter negotiate the sale of the withdrawn property, providing the negotiated price is determined to be in the best interest of the public by a majority vote of the board, on consideration of the recommendation by public works and that the public has two weeks' notice by advertisement and an opportunity to compete for purchase by offer of more favorable price on the terms negotiated.
(Ord. 1331 (Exh. A), 2021)
The county may dispose of or lease real property to another governmental agency and may acquire property from another governmental agency by negotiation, upon such terms as may be agreed upon and for such consideration as may be deemed to be adequate in compliance with RCW 43.09.210.
(Ord. 1331 (Exh. A), 2021)
In no case shall the title be transferred until the purchase price has been paid.
(Ord. 1331 (Exh. A), 2021)
The board may exchange county real property for privately owned real property of equal or greater value wherever it is determined by resolution, after publication of notice that the matter will be heard not less than three days after publication, that:
(1) 
The county real property proposed to be exchanged is not necessary to the future foreseeable needs of the county.
(2) 
The real property to be acquired by such exchange is necessary for the future foreseeable needs of the county.
(3) 
The value of the county real property to be exchanged is not more than the value of the real property to be acquired and that such value shall be established by a licensed general appraiser, qualified in the area of the work assigned.
(Ord. 1331 (Exh. A), 2021)