Dane County committee to bid on tax-deeded Fish Lake parcel to remove unsafe shoreline structures

The Dane County Land and Water Conservation Committee on Thursday approved a resolution authorizing the county to bid at the fall tax-deed auction for 7874 Fish Lake Road so county crews or contractors can remove remaining shoreline structures that have become a public-health and environmental nuisance.

The measure, introduced as “20 25 res 1 29” on the agenda, passed on a voice vote after a staff presentation explaining decades of rising groundwater and repeated buyouts at Fish Lake in the town of Roxbury. Committee Chair Chapala called for a motion; Supervisor Marin moved the resolution and the committee voted in favor.

Committee staff described Fish Lake as a closed natural lake with no outlet that has experienced progressively worse flooding since the early 2000s. Laura (Land and Water staff) told the committee that county buyouts in past programs acquired many properties on the east side of Fish Lake Road and that those parcels were cleared and removed. Several remaining parcels did not sell; one parcel went tax delinquent and the county treasurer obtained title via tax deed earlier this summer. The county estimates the parcel's fair market value for the upcoming auction at $1,000.

Land and Water staff recommended that the county bid to re-acquire the parcel if necessary so the county can remove the remaining structure, which staff described as sitting in standing water, moldy, graffitied and shedding siding and other debris into the lake. Staff estimated demolition and removal costs could range from $20,000 to $50,000 but said no hard estimate had been completed.

Staff explained the Department of Natural Resources declined to take responsibility because the ordinary high-water mark has not been reestablished to include the structures as waters of the state. Town officials have not ordered removal; staff said the town has the authority to remove structures as a nuisance but has been unwilling to do so because of cost-recovery concerns.

Committee members asked whether the county would continue to make buyout offers to remaining owners. Staff said the county has largely paused active buyout offers in recent years because state grant support used earlier to offset costs is no longer available; the county previously covered 100% of project costs when grant support ended. Staff said if a landowner approaches the county and offers to sell, the county’s current offer would be to accept the parcel for $1, but the earlier market-value buyout offers have expired.

Supervisor Downey asked whether the county would wait for neighboring properties to go tax delinquent before acting; staff said that is one possibility, and that county staff could also entertain an approach if landowners later express willingness to sell.

The committee voted by voice; names were not recorded on the audio transcript and the vote appears to have been taken without a roll-call tally. The motion passed and staff said they would proceed with the auction-bid approach.

The committee also reviewed scheduling for upcoming meetings at the City-County Building, including a September 11 meeting and follow-up budget meetings at the same location.

The committee discussion and vote were procedural and did not authorize demolition contracts or commit a funding source for removal beyond the county’s intent to bid and, if successful, perform or contract for cleanup work. Staff flagged that demolition cost estimates remain preliminary and that grant support previously used for buyouts is no longer available.