Private Acts of 1959 Chapter 184

SECTION 1. That all abandoned, stolen, and/or recovered property of every kind and character, other than as provided in Section 8 herein, but including motor vehicles which shall remain unclaimed with the Sheriff's Office of Shelby County for the period of ninety days (90), the owners of which whether known or not, shall fail or refuse within said period of ninety days (90) to claim or reclaim such property, may be sold and disposed of at public auction as herein provided. By virtue of this Act the County of Shelby shall have authority to divest and vest title to property sold under the hereinafter stated provisions.

SECTION 2. That the Sheriff of Shelby County shall give to the purchasing agent of Shelby County a list of all property subject to sale hereunder and shall thereafter deliver said property, except motor vehicles, to the purchasing agent before the date of sale, and take a receipt from the purchasing agent showing in detail all property so delivered. Motor vehicles shall be kept by Sheriff until a sale has been made.

SECTION 3. That thirty days (30) notice of the time and place of sale, and a descriptive list of the property and/or motor vehicles to be offered for sale, shall be posted at the Courthouse door of Shelby County, Tennessee, and at another public place in the County, and a copy thereof sent by registered mail to the last known address of the owner (in the event the name of the owner is known to the purchasing agent), and thereafter said property shall be offered at public auction to the highest bidder for each piece of property or assembled in lots, whichever, in the discretion of the purchasing agent of Shelby County, shall tend to bring the best price for said property, except motor vehicles shall be sold separately.

SECTION 4. That said public auction shall be conducted at the place and hour designated in the notice, and all sales shall be for cash.

SECTION 5. That the purchasing agent shall conduct said public auction, and he shall keep an accurate statement of each article and/or motor vehicle sold, and the price bid and paid therefor, and shall make a complete report in writing to the Chairman of the Quarterly County Court of Shelby County of the time and place where said sale was conducted and all funds received on account of said auction sale, which shall be delivered to the Chairman of the Quarterly County Court of Shelby County who shall give his receipt therefor.

SECTION 6. That the Chairman of the Quarterly County Court of Shelby County is hereby required to place all funds received by him under and by virtue of this Act to the credit of the general fund of the County of Shelby, to be thereafter appropriated as the Quarterly County Court of Shelby County shall order.

SECTION 7. That any property as herein provided which, after having been listed, advertised, and offered for sale, shall bring no price, then and in that event the purchasing agent shall deem such property as worthless and shall dispose of said property in such manner as he and the Sheriff may deem right and proper, and he shall report to the Chairman of the Quarterly County Court of Shelby County the date and manner of the disposal of such worthless property.

SECTION 8. That nothing in this Act shall be construed as repealing the provisions of any other Act now in effect which provides for the disposition of abandoned, stolen, recovered and/or contraband property.

SECTION 9. That this Act shall have no effect unless the same shall have been approved by a two-thirds vote of the Quarterly County Court of Shelby County within ninety days (90) after the sine die adjournment of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee. Its approval or non-approval shall be proclaimed by the presiding officer of the body having jurisdiction to approve, or the reverse, and shall be certified by him to the Secretary of State.

SECTION 10. That this Act shall take effect from and after its passage, the public
welfare requiring it.

Passed: March 11, 1959.