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Sawyer County committee approves removal of sale restriction on Bass Lake parcels; public commenter urges caution on septic planning
Summary
The committee approved a town request to remove a county-imposed restriction that limited sales of certain Bass Lake parcels to sanitary districts. A public commenter urged the committee not to release rights until county septic treatment planning and the Land and Water Resource Management Plan are updated.
The Sawyer County Land, Water and Forest Resource Committee approved a resolution to remove a county-imposed restriction on properties in the Northwood Beach development in the town of Bass Lake that had limited sales to a sanitary district. Committee members voted to approve the town's request on June 1, 2025.
County staff explained the town of Bass Lake purchased the properties from the county in 1973 and that the electorate voted at a special meeting on April 15 to permit sale of the parcels, prompting the town's request to remove the restriction. A county staff member said the town is considering land sales in part to raise funds for fire-department apparatus and building repairs.
During public comment earlier in the meeting, Linda Zilmer, an Edgewater property owner, urged the committee to delay removing rights tied to donated county land until the county's Land and Water Resource Management Plan was reviewed. "Until maybe you fully understand from looking at your plan and what the septic need disposal needs are in the county, do not release those rights," Zilmer said, noting the plan affects staffing and funding for conservation and zoning work and intersects with shoreland density and camping-cabin ordinance discussions.
A committee member who identified themselves as serving on the Bass Lake board asked whether recusal was required and then moved to approve the restriction removal. The motion passed on a voice vote; no roll-call tally was taken.
County staff told the committee they would forward the signed town request and earlier supporting documentation to the county board for final action. Staff also noted similar restrictions had been removed for other properties in February 2025.
The committee discussed whether the county should take a formal position for the pending DNR water-level petition for nearby lakes; staff reiterated the county's earlier stance to remain neutral on the DNR petition while facilitating DNR documentation requirements.
Sources: meeting testimony and staff reports at the Sawyer County Land, Water and Forest Resource Committee meeting.
