Blue Earth County considers rejecting low bids for poor farm parcels

During the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners meeting on March 25, a significant discussion centered around the recent bids for the county's poor farm land. The bids, which were opened on March 17, were divided into six separate parcels, but all came in below the expected market values, raising concerns among the commissioners.

Josh, a representative from the county, reported that the bids for each parcel varied widely. For instance, Parcel 1 received three bids ranging from $152,000 to $165,000, while Parcel 3 saw six bids between $484,000 and $746,000. Despite the number of bids, all parcels were assessed to have lower offers than anticipated based on market evaluations provided by Winger Land Services.

The commissioners discussed the implications of these low bids, noting that the current sealed bid process mandated by state law may not be the most effective way to sell the land. Josh suggested that a traditional selling method, involving a broker, could yield better results for the county. This approach would allow for more flexibility and potentially higher offers from interested buyers.

As a result of these discussions, the board is considering rejecting the current bids and moving forward with a different selling strategy. This decision aims to maximize the county's return on the property and better serve the community's financial interests.

The outcome of this meeting highlights the county's commitment to ensuring that public assets are managed effectively, reflecting a proactive approach to land sales that could benefit local taxpayers in the long run. The board's next steps will involve further discussions on how to proceed with the sale of the poor farm land.