§18B-2-7 Authorization to sell all or part of Potomac State College of West Virginia University parcels of land located in New Creek and Keyser commonly known as the Potomac State College farm listed
§18B-2-7. Authorization to sell all or part of Potomac State College of West Virginia University parcels of land located in New Creek and Keyser commonly known as the Potomac State College farm listed on the public lands inventory as 1PSC6. PSC Parcel No.6, 1PSC14. PSC Parcel No.14 and 1PSC16. PSC Parcel No.16.
(a) The board of trustees is hereby authorized and empowered to sell those parcels of land located on New Creek and Keyser Districts, Mineral County, West Virginia, commonly known as the Potomac State College Farm and listed on the Potomac State College index description of parcel use and list of parcels of lands and on the public lands inventory as: (1) 1PSC6. PSC Parcel No. 6, containing approximately 223.17 acres, (2) 1PSC14. PSC Parcel No. 14, containing approximately 8.25 acres and (3) 1PSC16. PSC Parcel No. 16, containing approximately 180.6 acres.
(b) Each parcel may be subdivided and sold in parts however, all sales shall be accomplished through public auction, the terms of which shall be to achieve the highest price for such parcels whether in whole or in part: Provided, That prior to such action the board of trustees shall have the properties appraised separately by two licensed appraisers and shall not sell the property for less than the average of the appraisals: Provided, however, That in the event of sale of all or part to the government of the United States of America, public auction shall not be required and sale price may be negotiated at or above the average of two separate valuations by licensed appraisers.
(c) Prior to public auction, the board of trustees shall schedule a public hearing to be held at a reasonable time and place within the county to allow interested members of the public to attend the hearing without undue hardship. Members of the public may be present, submit statements and testimony and question the college's representative appointed pursuant to this subsection. The board of trustees shall cause to be published a notice of the required public hearing. The notice shall be published as a Class II legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code and the publication area shall be the county in which the affected land is located. The public hearing shall be held no earlier than the fourteenth successive day following the first publication of the notice. The notice shall contain the time and place of the public hearing along with a brief description of the affected land. In addition thereto, the board of trustees shall cause a copy of the required notice to be posted in a conspicuous place at the affected land for members of the public to observe. Such notice shall remain posted for two successive weeks prior to the date of the public hearing. The board of trustees shall appoint a representative of the college who shall conduct the required public hearing. The college's representative shall have full knowledge of all the facts and circumstances surrounding the proposed sale.
(d) The proceeds from the sale of the property referred to shall be deposited in a special revenue account from which the board of trustees is hereby authorized to expend the fund for horticulture, agriculture and forestry facilities and programs at Potomac State College of West Virginia University: Provided, That the prioritized recommendations of the agriculture department advisory committee shall be considered by the agriculture department faculty and president of the college in the expenditure of the proceeds: Provided, however, That the advisory committee shall include one member each representing agricultural education, animal or dairy science, forestry, horticulture, and veterinary medicine, of which three shall be alumni of the agriculture department at the college.