PICKENS — Pickens County is going to be wearing both the buyer’s hat and the seller’s hat as it prepares to close on the sale of a 521-acre site that was originally supposed to be a landfill.

County Council passed a resolution Monday to accept the highest bid for the 521-acre landfill that Pickens has owned jointly with Anderson and Oconee counties for the past several years. Pickens County was the only bidder, offering to pay $2,845,050 for the property. Since the county already has a one-third ownership stake, it’s going to be paying $1,896,700. Essentially, the county is “buying out” the other two owners.

Pickens County Council Chairman Neil Smith said the money will come out of the county’s reserve fund.

Officials say Pickens County should be able to close the sale within 30 days.

Council members say they hope to use the property as an investment in the future, but they don’t know yet what the property will be used for.

“We can sell it in part or in full,” Smith said.

Pickens County purchased the property about 15 years ago with plans to develop it as a Subtitle D landfill, in partnership with Anderson and Oconee counties.

But Anderson County eventually blocked the sale of the site, despite a bid by Youngblood Corp. for $2.84 million. Former Anderson County Councilman Bill McAbee said at the time he thought the counties could make more money and that it could be marketed better.

Anderson County Council voted 6-1 not to sell it, with only Councilman Bob Waldrep casting the one differing vote on Anderson County Council.

Since then, none of the counties had made a profit on the property.

“We’ve got 521 acres of property and no property taxes,” Smith said.

After Monday’s meeting, Smith said he believes Pickens County has a much better working relationship with the current council in Anderson County. Two years ago, three Anderson County incumbents were replaced and the political landscape in Pickens County’s southern neighbor was changed drastically.

But either way, Smith said council members are much more comfortable knowing Pickens County will be the only owner.

“This way, we’re not held up with the wishes of Anderson or Oconee counties,” he said.

In other news, council passed an ordinance on final reading to provide for the issuance and sale of a $1 million general obligation bond.

Council also passed first reading of an ordinance to authorize the issuance of a bond anticipation note with the principal amount of $1.68 million.