Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Beltrami County board approves land-review committee classifications for tax‑forfeited parcels
Summary
The board approved Land Review Committee recommendations under Minnesota Statute 282.01 to classify multiple tax‑forfeited parcels as conservation or non‑conservation, clearing the way for sales or retention and, for some parcels, Department of Natural Resources review.
The Beltrami County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 7 to adopt the Land Review Committee’s recommendations classifying tax‑forfeited parcels from 2016–2023 and two additional parcels, using guidance from Minnesota Statute 282.01.
Shane Foley, director of the county’s Natural Resource Management Department, summarized the committee’s work and described the criteria used to determine whether parcels should remain in public ownership (classified “conservation”) or be offered back into private ownership (classified “non‑conservation”). Foley said the statute directs counties to weigh whether land best serves transportation, drainage, recreation, natural resources, agricultural uses or reduction of government expenditures if retained.
Parcels the committee recommended as conservation included a 12‑acre lot in Hagley Township (to connect with existing state and trust timberlands), a 10‑acre parcel adjacent to other county parcels near a main road in Nevesh Township, a 1‑acre steep intersection site in Roosevelt Township retained for highway drainage, a 1‑acre lot in Summit Township within a road right-of-way for ditch preservation, and a 1‑acre wetland lot east of Gull Lake in the city of Tenstrike that the committee said is undevelopable and better held by the county.
Parcels recommended for non‑conservation classification and sale included a 3‑acre platted settling basin in Echols Township, a 4‑acre property northeast of Blackduck with a house, a 78‑acre Northern Township parcel (two parcels combined) being evaluated for septic-system treatment work, a 1‑acre platted sediment basin in Northern Township and a 1‑acre access parcel to Upper Bridal Lake in Shotley Township. Foley said the classification of non‑conservation parcels moves them into a state review process, including review by the Department of Natural Resources where required.
Commissioner John Carlson moved to approve the Land Review Committee recommendations; Commissioner Scott Winger seconded. The board voted by voice; commissioners recorded no opposition and the motion carried.
The board’s action sets the administrative step required before tax‑forfeited parcels can be marketed or otherwise disposed of under state law.
