County discusses donated land offer near Kent Monument; no purchase approved

The committee discussed an offer from landowner David Thompson (owner of Crow Valley) to donate roughly six acres adjacent to the Kent Monument — about four acres north of the road and two acres south — provided the county pays survey and closing expenses.

Thompson is reportedly not seeking payment for the land but would expect the county to cover the cost of surveying and closing. Staff said the north four‑acre parcel contains remnants of an original horse‑and‑buggy trail and older trees; the south parcel appeared wooded and would be best used for a nature trail. Commissioners noted the county would need to budget for survey, title work and future maintenance and said any acquisition would likely need to be scheduled in next year’s budget.

No formal purchase or budget appropriation was made. Several commissioners said they would like to visit the site with the owner to assess suitability and maintenance needs before committing funds. A staff member estimated survey and closing costs could be a few thousand dollars and cautioned maintenance and tree removal could add ongoing costs.

The committee left the matter for further exploration and possible inclusion in next year’s budget, instructing staff to obtain cost estimates and coordinate a site visit with the landowner.