(A) Except as provided in division (H) below, the power of the municipality to convey any real property owned by it, including land used for park purposes and public squares, except real property used in the operation of public utilities, shall be exercised by resolution directing the sale of such real property.
(B) After the passage of the resolution directing the sale, notice of all proposed sales of real property described in division (A) above, and the terms of such sales shall be published once each week for three consecutive weeks in a legal newspaper in or of general circulation in the municipality.
(C) If, within 30 days after the third publication of the notice, a remonstrance petition against such sale, conforming to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-628, is signed by registered voters of the municipality, equal in number to 30% of the registered voters of the municipality voting at the last regular municipal election held therein, and is filed with the governing body of such municipality, such property shall not then, nor within one year thereafter, be sold. If the date for filing the petition falls upon a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the signatures shall be collected within the 30-day period, but the filing shall be considered timely if filed or postmarked on or before the next business day.
(D) Upon the receipt of the petition, the governing body, with the aid and assistance of the Election Commissioner or County Clerk, shall determine the validity and sufficiency of signatures on the petition. The governing body shall deliver the petition to the Election Commissioner or County Clerk by hand carrier, by use of law enforcement officials or by certified mail, return receipt requested. Upon receipt of the petition, the Election Commissioner or County Clerk shall issue to the governing body a written receipt that the petition is in the custody of the Election Commissioner or County Clerk. The Election Commissioner or County Clerk shall compare the signature of each person signing the petition with the voter registration records to determine if each signer was a registered voter on or before the date on which the petition was filed with the governing body. The Election Commissioner or County Clerk shall also compare the signer’s printed name, street and number or voting precinct and city, village or post office address with the voter registration records to determine whether the signer was a registered voter. The signature and address shall be presumed to be valid only if the Election Commissioner or County Clerk determines that the printed name, street and number or voting precinct and city, village or post office address matches the registration records and that the registration was received on or before the date on which the petition was filed with the governing body. The determinations of the Election Commissioner or County Clerk may be rebutted by any credible evidence which the governing body finds sufficient. The express purpose of the comparison of names and addresses with the voter registration records, in addition to helping to determine the validity of the petition, the sufficiency of the petition and the qualifications of the signer, shall be to prevent fraud, deception and misrepresentation in the petition process. Upon completion of the comparison of names and addresses with the voter registration records, the Election Commissioner or County Clerk shall prepare in writing a certification under seal setting forth the name and address of each signer found not to be a registered voter and the signature page number and line number where the name is found, and if the reason for the invalidity of the signature or address is other than the nonregistration of the signer, the Election Commissioner or County Clerk shall set forth the reason for the invalidity of the signature. If the Election Commissioner or County Clerk determines that a signer has affixed his or her signature more than once to the petition and that only one person is registered by that name, the Election Commissioner or County Clerk shall prepare in writing a certification under seal setting forth the name of the duplicate signature and shall count only the earliest dated signature. The Election Commissioner or County Clerk shall certify to the governing body the number of valid signatures necessary to constitute a valid petition. The Election Commissioner or County Clerk shall deliver the petition and the certifications to the governing body within 40 days after the receipt of the petition from the governing body. The delivery shall be by hand carrier, by use of law enforcement officials or by certified mail, return receipt requested. Not more than 20 signatures on one signature page shall be counted.
(E) The governing body shall, within 30 days after the receipt of the petition and certifications from the Election Commissioner or County Clerk, hold a public hearing to review the petition and certifications and receive testimony regarding them. The governing body shall, following the hearing, vote on whether or not the petition is valid and shall uphold the petition if sufficient valid signatures have been received.
(F) Real property now owned or hereafter owned by the municipality may be conveyed without consideration to the state for state armory sites or, if acquired for state armory sites, shall be conveyed strictly in accordance with the conditions of Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 18-1001 through 18-1006.
(G) Following passage of the resolution directing a sale, publishing of the notice of the proposed sale and passing of the 30-day right-of-remonstrance period, the property shall then be sold. Such sale shall be confirmed by passage of an ordinance stating the name of the purchaser and terms of the sale. The Municipal Clerk-Treasurer shall, upon passage of such ordinance, certify the name of the purchaser to the Register of Deeds of the county in which the property is located.
(H) Notwithstanding the procedures in divisions (A) through (G) above, real property owned by the municipality may be conveyed when such property:
(1) Is sold in compliance with the requirements of federal or state grants or programs;
(2) Is conveyed to another public agency; or
(3) Consists of streets and alleys.
(I) Divisions (A) through (H) above shall not apply to the sale of real property if the authorizing resolution directs the sale of real property, the total fair market value of which is less than $5,000. Following passage of the resolution directing the sale of the property, notice of the sale shall be posted in three prominent places within the municipality for a period of not less than seven days prior to the sale of the property. The notice shall give a general description of the property offered for sale and state the terms and conditions of sale. Confirmation of the sale by passage of an ordinance may be required.
(J) The power of the municipality to convey any personal property owned by it shall be exercised by resolution directing the sale and the manner and terms of the sale. Following passage of the resolution directing the sale of the personal property, notice of the sale shall be posted in three prominent places within the municipality for a period of not less than seven days prior to the sale of the property. If the fair market value of the property is greater than $5,000, notice of the sale shall also be published once in a legal newspaper in or of general circulation in the municipality at least seven days prior to the sale of the personal property. The notice shall give a general description of the property offered for sale and state the terms and conditions of sale. Personal property may be conveyed notwithstanding the procedure set forth in this division (J) when such property is being sold in compliance with the requirements of federal or state grants or programs or such property is being conveyed to another public agency.
(Ord. 2022-6, passed 11-1-2022)
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 17-503, 17-503.01 and 17-503.02