LARGO - Pinellas County Property Appraiser Jim Smith Wednesday denied getting preferential treatment when the county government purchased his vacant, private property for $225,000, and added that "we had our day here with the grand jury."

Smith's remarks came after he testified before the grand jury investigating the land purchase. He was the last person to appear before the panel in the third day of its investigation.

Also testifying Wednesday were County Attorney Susan Churuti and county Commissioners Bob Stewart and Calvin Harris.

"The grand jury has it, and I'd just as soon wait for their decision," Smith said while leaving the Criminal Justice Center. "There's a lot I'd like to say, and I will do that as time allows. It's been very hard for me not to say something."

Asked whether he received a sweetheart deal, Smith said, "Not at all."

Under scrutiny is the commission's unanimous June 5 decision to purchase Smith's vacant, private land in north Pinellas for stormwater control. The sale has raised questions about whether Smith, whom Churuti represented while she also was advising the commission, received preferential treatment.

Churuti, whom commissioners suspended with pay last week pending the completion of the investigation, entered the grand jury room about 1:40 p.m. Smith followed at 1:55 p.m. The grand jury finished its day about 5:30 p.m. and will reconvene Aug. 23.

The county's acquisition of Smith's property came four months after his lawyer sent a letter to the county contending that county workers had ruined his client's property by cutting trees and clearing debris after the 2004 storms.

The parcel was valued for tax purposes at $59,400 by Smith's office, raising questions about why the county paid nearly four times that amount and whether Smith's property was undervalued on the tax roll, saving him thousands of dollars in property taxes.

Reporter Carlos Moncada can be reached at (727) 385-5687 or cmoncada@tampatrib.com.