Whether looking for cleared or wooded lots inside the city limits of Bainbridge, Decatur County may have the right one for you.

Beginning this week, Decatur County is putting 46 properties up for bid “as is—where is” to the highest bidder, at the rate of about five properties every two weeks.

Successful bidders will be issued a quit claim deed, and Decatur County makes no representation as to title of the properties and has not foreclosed the right of redemption of persons formerly owning the properties.

The county suggests that anyone unfamiliar with the laws concerning properties acquired through tax sales should consult with someone who is familiar with the laws.

The process of selling the properties began more than two years ago when the Decatur County Commissioners approved selling the properties obtained by the county through tax sales.

In January 2008, then Bainbridge City Planner Bryan Barnett sat down with Finance Director Carl Rowland and Commission Chairman Earl Perry to go over the list of properties obtained through tax sales and marked the zoning classification of each property, while also noting which of the properties were non-conforming to the city’s building code.

Perry said this week that he wanted to apologize for the delay in getting these properties ready to sell, but the legal process proved to be more involved than originally thought.

“I am pleased that we are finally able to make these properties available to interested citizens and get them back on the tax rolls,” said Perry. “As it is, these properties are an expense to the county as we have to maintain them with county crews and equipment.”

The properties marked non-conforming will not be placed for bid, since Rowland will contact contiguous property owners and offer it to those interested in making non-conforming property part of their existing property. This process will take much longer and will occur after bidding is completed on the other 46 properties, he said.

Advertisements for the property will run weekly in The Post-Searchlight and on the county’s web site at www.decaturcountyga.org in increments of about five properties per bid cycle, or about five properties every two weeks.

Official bid sheets must be used in the bidding process, and property can be picked up at 203 W. Broughton St., where there are also maps of the city that show the exact location of each property.

Public Works crews will also place “For Sale” signs on each property once it is advertised in the paper, in order to alert neighboring property owners of pending sale of the properties.

Successful bidders must pay the bid price within five days or else the property will go to the next highest bidder.

The county reserves the right to reject all bids and, or cancel the sale of any property. All sales are final.

Maps of the properties are located at 203 W. Broughton St.

Call Carl Rowland or Barbara Parsons at (229) 248-3030 for more information.