County accepts Schofield offer for 281 Grand Avenue, conditions tied to environmental verification

The Human Resources, Finance and Property Committee voted unanimously to accept the City of Schofield’s $550,000 offer to purchase 281 Grand Avenue in the city of Schofield, provided the contract verifies resolution of environmental cleanup issues. The county acquired the parcel through the tax-deed process after property-tax delinquency and a concurrent human health-hazard court action, Administrator Leonard said. The county had the property appraised at $400,000; the city procured a separate appraisal valued at $395,000. The nut graf: The committee’s action moves the parcel toward local control while preserving a process to recover the county’s costs for cleanup and delinquent taxes; staff presented detailed post-acquisition costs and cautioned that state statute and recent case law require the county to remit any excess proceeds to former owners after satisfying liens and costs. County staff reported $179,068.78 in post-acquisition cleanup and readiness costs and $145,039.41 in delinquent taxes, interest and penalties, for tentative total county costs of $324,108.19. Those figures, staff said, will be finalized at transfer. Administrator Leonard said the county followed its ordinance (consistent with state law) by notifying the municipality of its acquisition; the ordinance permits a municipality to negotiate directly for a purchase provided the county receives at least fair market value and covers owed amounts. The county’s appraisal, he said, reflects remediation work the county undertook in the human health-hazard case. Legal counsel noted the county must apply sale proceeds first to delinquent taxes, penalties and county costs; any remaining funds are payable to the former owner under U.S. constitutional takings jurisprudence, including recent guidance from Tyler v. Hennepin County (court decision referenced by staff). Supervisor Scott asked whether the county would be required to remit the difference between the sale price and appraisal; counsel answered that after taxes, penalties and costs are covered the remainder would go to the former owner, per statute and case law. Supervisor Cody requested and staff provided the tentative cleanup and tax figures quoted above and confirmed they will be finalized at transfer. The committee also discussed an addendum in the city’s offer that would keep environmental site-assessment results confidential. County staff said municipalities that acquire property under state spill laws can obtain certain liability protections; staff expressed a preference for public disclosure of environmental reports to preserve transparency and to document costs should the sale fail. Staff will continue negotiating that clause with city counsel. Motion and outcome: Chair Gibbs moved to approve the sale conditioned on verification of environmental cleanup issues in the contract; Supervisor Hart seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Ending: Staff said they will finalize the cleanup and tax accounting before transfer and will bring any revised contract language (particularly regarding the environmental assessment confidentiality clause) to the County Board for final action.