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Landowners Bill of Rights <br />Negotiation Process <br />The State is not allowed to discuss the price until after the appraisal is completed and will not <br />discuss the price with anyone but the landowner or his agent. Documents regarding the <br />purchase of your property will be public records once the purchase is completed. At the <br />beginning of the negotiation period, you will be given a summary of the approved appraisal. <br />This summary will include the final conclusion of value, the total number of acres and types <br />of land appraised, the valuation of all buildings and improvements being purchased, and any <br />special elements of value. The same person who appraised your property for the State will <br />not act as a negotiator for its purchase. <br />Purchase Procedure <br />The Department of Natural Resources will acquire your property by means of an option, <br />which is an offer from the landowner to sell. The option, including all special provisions, <br />legal descriptions and elements of execution, must be reviewed by the State as to its legality <br />and acceptability. The State shall have 15 days after receiving an option to notify the <br />landowner in writing if the option is not approved and the reasons therefore. If you are not <br />notified of an option's disapproval, you should assume it is approved. <br />Unless you request otherwise in writing, the option period shall be no more than two months <br />if no survey is required. If a survey is required, the option period shall be no more than nine <br />months. These time limits do not apply to wildlife management areas that require county <br />board approval. The option period begins on the last date on which the option is signed by a <br />landowner. Before the end of the option period, the State shall decide whether or not to <br />purchase the land and shall notify the landowner of its decision by either a Notice of Election <br />to Purchase or a letter explaining the reasons for not purchasing the property. If the State <br />does not elect to purchase property on which it has approved and accepted an option, it will <br />pay the landowner $500.00 after the option period expires. <br />After signing the option, you have one month to mail or deliver an Abstract of Title to the <br />Department of Natural Resources. If your land title is registered, you should submit your <br />Owner's Duplicate Certificate of Title plus a Registered Property Abstract instead of an <br />Abstract of Title. The State will have the abstract brought up to date at its own expense. <br />Within one month from the Notice of Election to Purchase or delivery of the <br />Abstract,whichever is later, the Attorney General will provide a title opinion which will <br />identify any defects in your title to be cleared up before the purchase can be completed. You <br />will then have 120 days to make your title marketable. <br />The landowner is required to pay all taxes that are due in the year in which the deed or <br />easement is signed, including Green Acres deferred taxes. Once the taxes are paid and all <br />title defects are cured, the Attorney General will send you a Warranty Deed or other <br />conveyance document to sign and return. <br />Page 21 <br />273 <br />