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Hubbard County commissioners vote to draft letter opposing Northern Waters Land Trust purchase on Upper Bottle Lake
Summary
County staff notified the board that Northern Waters Land Trust and DNR plan to purchase 42 acres on the north side of Upper Bottle Lake to expand the Mantrap WMA. Commissioners expressed concern about loss of taxable land and unanimously approved a motion to have the administrator draft a letter of opposition for review.
County land manager S13 told the Hubbard County Board that Northern Waters Land Trust and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources plan to purchase 42 acres north of Upper Bottle Lake in December 2025 as an expansion to the Mantrap Wildlife Management Area.
The announcement prompted immediate concern from several commissioners who cited the effect on county tax capacity and local revenue. Commissioner S9 calculated the parcel generated roughly $4,548 in taxes for the top portion and Commissioner S3 referenced a taxable total of $4,626 for two parcels in 2025, of which he said about $2,470 went to the county and the remainder to townships and schools. Commissioners who opposed the sale argued the land could be developed for taxable residential lots and that converting privately owned taxable parcels to nontaxable public land using state funds erodes the local tax base.
Commissioner S8 urged the board to push for greater local control when public dollars convert taxable land to nontaxable status and proposed that the county draft a letter asking the land trust and DNR not to proceed. S2 agreed to draft the letter for board review; S3 seconded the motion and the board voted to carry it. Commissioners discussed pursuing legislative remedies — potentially joining a multi-county effort to seek local approval authority when state funds are used to convert taxable lands to public ownership.
The board’s action was procedural: it instructed staff to prepare a draft letter opposing the purchase for the board’s consideration, rather than preventing the transaction. The Northern Waters Land Trust and DNR were not present to respond during the meeting.
The board did not vote on any sale or expenditure related to the property; next steps are the drafting and review of the letter. The county indicated interest in seeking legislative changes if the issue recurs.
