Jackson Municipal Code Ch. 2.52 Disposition of Unclaimed Property

It shall be and it is declared to be the duty of every employee and officer of the city who shall find any lost money or other property in or upon any public grounds, highways, road, public building, place or property in the city to deliver the same to the chief of police, together with a statement in writing stating fully the circumstances of the finds, including the time and place of the finding and the name and address of the owner or person believed to be the owner, if known.

(Ord. 604 §1, 1998)

The chief of police for the city shall care for and protect all property coming into his or her possession by virtue of the preceding section, or otherwise, including items of evidence obtained during investigations and shall restore such property to its true owner upon proof of ownership satisfactory to him or her and upon payment of all necessary costs incurred in the care and protection thereof. Should any such property remain unclaimed by its true owner for a period of four months from the date of finding, or for a period of three months with respect to bicycles, the chief of police is authorized at any time thereafter to publish a notice describing the property and stating that five days after such publication the property will be placed for sale at public auction. Such property shall not thereafter be redeemable by the owner or the person entitled to possession. If the city manager determines that any such property transferred to the city for sale is needed for public use, such property may be retained for use by the city and need not be sold. Property determined by the chief of police or his/her designee to be of no or of insufficient value to recover cost of sale, may be disposed of without first complying with this chapter.

(Ord. 604 §1, 1998)

Prior to the sale of any property at public auction, the chief of police shall publish a notice of time and place of sale, describing the items to be sold, at least five days prior to the sale. Any property remaining unsold after being offered at such public auction may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of. The proceeds of such sale shall be deposited in the general fund.

(Ord. 604 §1, 1998)

Should any property coming into the custody of the chief of police be in danger of perishing or of losing the greater part of its value, or should the lawful charges as a finder of such property amount to two-thirds of its value, the same may be immediately sold by the chief of police.

(Ord. 604 §1, 1998)