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Board sends lakebed, Tax ID 44390, back to committee for further legal review after public comment
Summary
After public comment and board questions about a submerged parcel seeking to transfer title rather than pay delinquent taxes, the board voted to return the parcel (Tax ID 44390) to committee for additional legal review rather than accept county acquisition.
A request involving a submerged parcel (Tax ID 44390) that a landowner offered to quitclaim to Sawyer County instead of paying back taxes was referred back to committee for further legal review after public comment and board questions.
Public comment: A resident, Linda Zilmer (transcript: Zilmer/Zomer), identified herself as an Edgewater property owner and urged the board not to approve county acquisition of lakebed parcels. She said most lakebeds are under Department of Natural Resources ownership and recommended the county not take title to lakebed properties. Zilmer also asked the board not to remove sanitary restrictions on Bass Lake parcels without town legal review.
Board discussion: County forestry staff explained the parcel had been subdivided in 1983 and that a remaining portion is underwater; the owner preferred the county take title rather than risk an in-rem sale to a third party. Supervisors asked about the committee vote and tax amount; staff reported the delinquent taxes on the parcel are $1.40. Given those details, Supervisor Randy Newman moved (second by Supervisor Rickheimer) to send the matter back to committee for additional legal review; the motion carried on a voice vote.
Why it matters: The board declined immediate acquisition and asked for legal review because of ownership, environmental and tax-procedure implications — including whether DNR or other agencies have prior claims to lakebeds and how subdivision and zoning rules apply.
Next steps: The item will return to the Land, Water and Forestry Committee for legal review and additional options; the board did not take title at this meeting.
