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Board transfers two tax-forfeited parcels to DNR for Goodhue Pioneer Trail extension
Summary
Goodhue County agreed to transfer two tax-forfeited parcels to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Goodhue Pioneer Trail extension after prior approvals and categorization as conservation land; one parcel was later declined by DNR and will be revisited by staff.
Goodhue County commissioners on May 6 approved a resolution to transfer two tax-forfeited parcels to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for inclusion in the Goodhue Pioneer Trail extension between Zumbrota and Mazeppa.
Staff explained the parcels were part of a multi-year process that began with inquiries from the DNR in 2019 and an initial plan for the state chapter of the Izaak Walton League to acquire the parcels. That chapter subsequently dissolved and the parcels went tax-forfeit in May 2021. The parcels were transferred to state ownership in trust for local taxing districts and were classified as conservation land on Aug. 15, 2024. The DNR later requested ownership for trail purposes and the county board previously approved the DNR's request in 2022. On May 6 staff asked the board to execute the required resolution to complete the transfer; commissioners approved the resolution and staff will forward an executed resolution to the DNR so it can prepare and record a certificate of acceptance.
Staff told the board the DNR notified county staff on March 25 that it will no longer accept one of the three originally discussed parcels (parcel 721200370) because it lies within Zumbrota city limits; county staff said they are working on disposition options for that parcel. The board approved transfer of parcels 47029190470302100 to the DNR for the trail extension. The motion passed on a voice vote after a move and second.
The transfer completes a step in the DNR’s plan to consolidate corridor parcels for the trail; final recording by the DNR will complete the ownership change.
