2023 Indiana Code › Title 36. Local Government › Article 10. Recreation, Culture, and Community Facilities › Chapter 7.5. Township General Park and Recreation Law › 36-10-7.5-21. Land Acquisition or Appropriation and Improvements

Sec. 21. (a) This section applies only to:
(1) the acquisition of real property; or
(2) a work of improvement;
that will be financed by the issuance of bonds.
(b) If the executive or the fiscal body decides to:
(1) acquire land for any of the purposes prescribed in this chapter, either by purchase or by appropriation, and in conjunction with the acquisition to proceed with a work of improvement authorized by this chapter;
(2) acquire real property without proceeding at the time with a work of improvement; or
(3) proceed with a work of improvement where the real property has been already secured;
the legislative body may adopt a resolution stating the purpose, describing the land to be acquired, the manner of acquisition, and, in the case of an appropriation, the other land that may be injuriously affected, or describing the lands already acquired and intended to be used in connection with the proposed work of improvement.
(c) If a work of improvement is provided for in the resolution, the executive shall have preliminary plans and specifications and an estimate of the cost of the proposed work prepared by the engineer selected to do the work. Before adopting a resolution, the legislative body shall receive or hear remonstrances from persons interested in or affected by the proceedings and on which it will determine the public utility and benefit.
(d) Notice shall be sent by certified mail to each owner of land to be appropriated under the resolution, using the owner's address as shown on the tax duplicates. In addition, notice of the land to be appropriated shall be published in accordance with IC 5-3-1. All persons affected in any manner by the proceedings, including all taxpayers in the township, are considered notified of the pendency of the proceedings and of all subsequent acts, hearings, adjournments, and orders of the executive or the legislative body by the original notice of publication.
(e) In the resolution and notice, separate descriptions of each piece or parcel of land are not required, but it is a sufficient description of the property purchased, to be purchased, or to be appropriated or damaged to give a description of the entire tract by a platted description or by metes and bounds, whether the land is composed of one (1) or more lots or parcels and whether the land is owned by one (1) or more persons. If the land or a part of the land is to be acquired by purchase, the resolution must also state the maximum proposed cost.
(f) The executive may, at any time before the adoption of the resolution:
(1) obtain from the owner of the land an option for the purchase of the land; or
(2) enter into a contract for the purchase of the land upon the terms and conditions that the executive considers best.
The option or contract is subject to the final approval of the legislative body confirming, modifying, or rescinding the option or contract and to the condition that the land may be paid for only out of the special fund resulting from the sale of bonds as provided by this chapter.
(g) If the executive decides to acquire any lots or parcels of land by purchase, the executive shall appoint three (3) qualified appraisers to appraise the value of the land. The appraisers may not be interested directly or indirectly in any land that is to be acquired under the resolution or that may be injured or that may incur local benefits. The appraisers shall take an oath that they have no interest in the matter and that they will honestly and impartially make the valuation. The appraisers shall then view the land, determine the true market value of the land at that time, and report the appraisal in writing. The report shall be filed with and becomes a part of the record of the proceeding.
(h) The executive may not take an option on the land or enter into a contract to purchase the land at a higher price than the value named in the report. The title to land to be acquired under the resolution, whether by purchase or appropriation, does not vest until the land is paid for out of the special fund established by the sale of bonds as provided in this chapter. Any indebtedness or obligation of any kind incurred by the executive due to the acquisition of land or to construction work shall be paid out of the funds under the control of the executive and is not an indebtedness or obligation of the township.
(i) At the time fixed for the hearing or at any time before the hearing, an owner of land to be appropriated under the resolution or injuriously affected or a person owning real or personal property located in the district may file a written remonstrance with the chair of the legislative body.
(j) At the hearing, which may be adjourned from time to time, the legislative body shall hear all persons interested in the proceedings and all remonstrances that have been filed. After considering the evidence, the legislative body shall take final action determining the public utility and benefit of the proposed project by confirming, modifying, or rescinding the resolution. The final action shall be recorded and is final and conclusive upon all persons.
As added by P.L.157-1991, SEC.15. Amended by P.L.127-2017, SEC.387.