Section 10-3-64 - Appraisals(a) As provided in the act and in this section, the department shall appraise the value of all improvements of the tract or tracts and growing crops and stock including aguacultural improvements or stock, if any, if:(1) A lessee surrenders his lease;(2) A lessee dies leaving no person or persons qualified to be successor lessee or lessees;(3) The department is unable to designate a successor; or(4) The department cancels a lease.(b) An appraisal made pursuant to this section shall be made by one of the following methods: (1) By a disinterested appraiser hired and paid by the department;(2) By a disinterested appraiser mutually agreed to by the department and the lessee or the deceased lessee's legal representative; provided that the cost of the appraisal shall be borne equally by the two parties; or,(3) By not more than three disinterested appraisers of which the first shall be hired and paid by the department. If the lessee or the deceased lessee's legal representative does not agree with the appraised value, the lessee or the deceased lessee's legal representative shall hire and pay for the services of a second appraiser. The second appraiser's report shall be submitted to the department not later than ninety days from the date of the first appraisal report. The first appraisal shall be used if the second appraiser is not hired within thirty days from the date the department transmits the first appraisal report to the lessee or the deceased lessee's legal representative. The first appraisal shall also be used if the second appraiser does not submit an appraisal report to the department within ninety days from the date of the first appraisal report. If the values of the first and second appraisals are different and the two parties do not agree to a compromise value between the first and second appraisals, a third appraisal shall be made. An appraiser who shall be appointed by the first two appraisers not later than ninety days from the date of the second appraisal report shall make the third appraisal. The third appraiser shall determine the final value. The cost of the third appraisal shall be borne equally by the two parties.(c) The lessee or the deceased lessee's legal representative shall indicate, on a form provided by the department, which of the three appraisal methods described in subsection (b) shall be followed. The selection of appraisal method shall be made not later than thirty days from the date the form is provided to the lessee or the deceased lessee's legal representative by the department. If no selection of appraisal method is made in thirty days, the department shall hire and pay for the services of a disinterested appraiser whose appraisal shall be used.[Eff 7/30/81; am and comp 10/26/98] (Auth: HHC Act §222) (Imp: HHC Act §209)