Marathon County directs staff to draft deed‑restriction policy, advances housing inventory and tax‑delinquent property work

Marathon County officials received an update on steps taken under Resolution 66‑23 to address the county’s housing shortage and asked staff to draft policy language that would prioritize housing uses for county‑owned and tax‑delinquent parcels.

The committee was told staff has begun mapping roughly 50 county parcels for housing potential, coordinated with municipalities that identified parcels they want, and has pursued sales to local nonprofits and developers; members also discussed using deed restrictions or covenants to require owner‑occupied or long‑term residential use of properties sold after tax foreclosure.

The committee’s request for a draft policy follows months of administrative work funded through the county budget, and discussion that drew on Bayfield County’s recent experience restricting resale and short‑term rental eligibility for parcels sold out of tax foreclosure.

County staff summarized steps taken so far: compiling a remnant‑parcel list and an inventory of county‑owned land near utilities, engaging municipalities through a regional development meeting, and using the treasurer’s office and a…