County staff provided commissioners on June 17 with information about tax‑forfeited parcels near the Chief Bluff area that could serve as alternatives or supplements to a privately owned 80‑acre parcel under a community fundraising effort to preserve the bluff and adjacent shorelands.

Bob Thompson (county staff) said the county currently owns several tax‑forfeited shoreline parcels on West Bareskin (one about 0.5 acre with 100 feet of shoreline and another about 2 acres with 192 feet of shoreline) and provided assessed‑value comparisons to the privately owned parcel that has been the focal point of a volunteer fundraising campaign. He said no county purchase decision had been made and staff were asking for direction about whether the county should prepare a contingency plan if the fundraising effort or a 501(c)(3) fiscal agent cannot be completed within the needed timeline.

Why it matters: Advocates seeking to preserve the bluff face a time constraint tied to a potential private sale and to the need for an eligible nonprofit fiscal agent to apply for grants; county staff said DNR clearance, state deeds and legislative land processes can extend timelines significantly.

Details: Thompson described parcel sizes, shoreline feet and assessed values and said some tax‑forfeited parcels’ combined assessed value is similar to the asking price reported for the private parcel. Commissioners and staff discussed legal and procedural constraints: tax‑forfeited parcels must be reviewed through state processes, the DNR retains mineral interests on many state conveyances, and changes in tax‑forfeiture law (class‑action and foreclosure changes) affect timing. Commissioners asked staff to continue research and said the county’s options include serving as a buyer, identifying a fiscal agent nonprofit, or considering swaps — with the caveat that swaps and state approvals can be lengthy.

Next steps: Commissioners said staff should continue to evaluate tax‑forfeited parcels, provide valuation context and coordinate with volunteer funders and potential nonprofit partners; a small group is meeting to further the fundraising and partner search.

Ending: Staff emphasized the time pressure of the situation and recommended more detailed, documented options before the board commits county funds or land.