By Jessie Burchette
Salisbury Post
Rowan County commissioners have rejected an offer on a house on South Main Street, saying the bid was too low.
But commissioners made clear they want to sell three county-owned houses previously leased to Piedmont Behavioral Healthcare and used as group homes.
In December, the board declared the three houses surplus after Piedmont officials asked the county to cancel the final lease.
The homes are at 1127 South Main St.; 418 S. Carolina Ave., Spencer; and 6505 N.C. 150 W.
Carlos Parra of Long Ferry Road submitted a bid of $59,000 for the 1127 S. Main St. house. In a letter to the county, Parra noted that his business, Greenleaf Homes, owns the homes on either side of the county-owned house. The business provides residential care for veterans.
Parra wrote that he wanted to buy the house for his primary residence, putting him closer to his business.
Chairman Arnold Chamberlain praised the work that Parra does with veterans, but said he couldn’t accept $59,000 when the property has a tax value of $91,000.
Commissioner Jim Sides agreed, and suggested the county establish a minimum price.Sides noted that he and Commissioner Tina Hall visited the three houses and checked on the conditions.
“We need to get the best price,” Sides said. He added that the county doesn’t need to maintain them.
Commissioners agreed to Chamberlain’s recommended minimum price of $68,000 for the South Main Street house. They also agreed to have County Assessor Jerry Rowland check values for the two other houses and recommend a minimum price.
Commissioners agreed to set minimum bids at the Feb. 18 meeting. For-sale signs will be placed at each house.
Any bid submitted will go through the upset bid process.
In other matters, the board approved:
– A standard agreement for incentive grants with no discussion. The agreement has been under review for the past several meetings.
– Requests from the Rowan Public Library to apply for grants to buy large-print books and buy eight computers for the east branch.
– A licensing agreement with the Administrative Office of the Courts to allow electronic transfer of warrants.
– The name Antler Ridge Drive for an unnamed road off the 3100 block of Third Creek Church Road.
– A series of budget amendments that included $10,000 in additional state funds for senior citizen programs. The county also received an additional $40,000 in additional crisis intervention funds which Rowan Helping Ministries will disburse.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette @salisburypost.com.