Sec. 4. (a) This section applies to municipalities having a population of less than twenty thousand (20,000).

     (b) If the legislative body of a municipality decides to sell the parkland, a part of it, the minerals, mineral rights, or royalties for minerals under the parkland, or part of them, the legislative body may do so upon passing an ordinance for that purpose providing for the manner and terms of the sale. The legislative body may plat the land by laying it off into lots and public ways, and then selling the lots, after passing an ordinance to that effect or including it in the original ordinance. However, the land may not be sold until it is appraised as required in cities for the conveyance of property. If there is a board of park commissioners in a city, the legislative body shall proceed only upon a resolution of the board filed with the legislative body.

     (c) The proceeds derived from the sale of parkland or from minerals, mineral rights, or royalties for minerals under parkland shall be expended for:

(1) the improvement of the remaining parkland of the municipality;

(2) the purchase of other land for park purposes;

(3) the purchase, improvement, equipment, or maintenance of playgrounds, swimming pools, comfort stations, or recreation stations in the municipality; or

(4) a combination of these purposes.

In addition, money may be used for these purposes if it is derived in part from another source or under another statute.

     (d) The legislative body of the municipality may transfer the proceeds or a part of them derived from the sale of parkland or minerals, mineral rights, or royalties for minerals under parkland to the school corporation of the municipality. The proceeds shall be used by the school corporation for providing, equipping, and maintaining playgrounds, swimming pools, comfort stations, or recreation stations, whether they are on school grounds, used in connection with school grounds or school buildings, or on separate grounds. Before proceeds may be transferred to the school corporation for any of these purposes, the legislative body must pass an ordinance providing for the transfer of the proceeds and for what purposes they may be used.

     (e) Before final passage of the ordinance for the platting or sale of land by a town, notice of a hearing on the ordinance shall be given in accordance with IC 5-3-1. At the hearing any citizen of the town may appear and present objections to the ordinance and the sale of the land. If a remonstrance signed by twenty-five percent (25%) of the legal voters in the town is filed in the office of the town clerk within the time limits prescribed in the ordinance, the ordinance may not be passed or the land sold.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: subsection (a) New; subsection (b) formerly18-5-25-1; 18-5-27-1; subsection (c) formerly 18-5-25-2; 18-5-27-2; subsection (d) formerly 18-5-25-3; 18-5-27-3; subsection (e) formerly 18-5-25-4.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.112. Amended by Acts 1981, P.L.45, SEC.101.