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Crow Wing County board approves land swap with Holmvigs to buffer landfill
Summary
The county OK’d a 1-for-1 land exchange with Bradley and Jane Holmvig to create a buffer around the county landfill; the Holmvigs' 88.25-acre parcel (partly a former gravel pit) will transfer to county ownership in exchange for tax-forfeited acreage. Commissioners debated valuation, reclamation and long-term use before approving the resolution.
Crow Wing County commissioners on Nov. 25 approved a resolution authorizing a class-B land exchange with Bradley and Jane Holmvig that will add acreage adjacent to the county landfill while transferring tax-forfeited buffer lands in Bay Lake Township to the Holmvig family.
Land services staff said the Holmvig parcel totals about 88.25 acres (roughly 40 acres previously used as a gravel pit) and the county parcel is about 88.64 acres. Staff reported appraisals valuing the tax-forfeited parcels at $359,200 and the county tract at $377,100; timber value was included in those figures. "This is a 1 for 1 swap," Tom (Land Services) told the board, and he said no money changes hands as part of the exchange.
Supporters said the swap creates a long-term buffer to prevent residential development adjacent to the landfill and preserves county landfill operations. "We spent millions out at the landfill, and it's important to have a buffer around there to prevent future development," said Commissioner Coring.
Several commissioners pressed staff on due diligence, asking whether other county parcels might be a better swap and whether the Holmvigs would be required to reclaim the existing gravel pit under their conditional-use permit. Staff told the board the Holmvigs will be required to reclaim the site per CUP and that approximately 40 acres of the Holmvig tract could be used for extraction subject to wetland and setback restrictions.
Commissioners also discussed potential property-value impacts from a planned power line that will cross the Holmvig tract; valuation staff estimated roughly a 10% reduction in value where the line traverses the property, offset in part by easement payments from the power company.
On the final roll call, Commissioner Luebke voted no; all other commissioners voted aye and the resolution passed.
Next steps: land services will finalize the exchange documents, require the Holmvigs to follow reclamation requirements, and coordinate any tree planting and reclamation work the county intends to perform on the acquired county parcel.
