Commission approves County Lake informational one-pager, sets public-comment timing and notes state requirements if sale proceeds used

On March 25 the Atchison County Commission approved a one-page public information flyer about the proposed sale of County Lake and set a public-comment process and timing for the sale listing.

The finance director circulated a final PDF “one-pager” intended to describe the parcel, list price, acreage and the plan to reinvest sale proceeds into infrastructure, maintenance and expansion. The board approved that one-pager 3–0 and agreed to use social media and public-notice channels to announce the comment period. Staff proposed a public-comment meeting in mid-May to allow the land agent time to prepare listings and provide the board and public adequate notice.

Staff also said the land agent requested additional technical information before listing, including lake depth and details about the fish population and what happens to fish if the property is sold. County staff reported that if the property is sold, the county may need to prorate payments back to the state for the portion of the year that public access is not available; the county has already received approximately 75% of the annual state payment with the remaining 25% scheduled by Oct. 1. County staff said there is a dedicated fund with about $20,000 in state payments collected over years; allowable uses include mowing, dock repairs and other maintenance items that benefit public fishing access.

Why it matters: Selling a tax-exempt county property would return acreage to the tax roll, but state program payments and public-access conditions create obligations the county must address before a sale.

Ending: Staff will continue due diligence (lake depth, fish disposition, state payment proration) and the land agent will prepare listings; the board set a public-comment timeline to follow once technical details are confirmed.