Pine County commissioners approved a plan to tidy up ownership of a narrow parcel adjacent to the Snake River boat landing and a planned county bridge project on Highway 61 so the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) can move forward with a major boat‑landing improvement.

The county and the Pine County Agricultural Society agreed the county would quitclaim a small triangular parcel (described in discussion as a pie-shaped parcel south of 1st Avenue) to the Ag Society, which in turn would transfer the parcel to the DNR for the boat-landing project. Commissioners and staff said the transfer would also clear up long-standing questions about rights and historic ownership along the highway right-of-way and better align responsibilities for the bridge, the boat landing and the fairground parking.

Commissioners acknowledged the county may cede some rights in exchange for DNR-managed improvements that benefit the community (plowing, roof repairs, improved access). County staff reported this was largely a paperwork cleanup intended to resolve inconsistent historical deeds and to facilitate coordinated construction. The board voted to authorize county staff and the Ag Society attorney to work through the technical quitclaim and easement language.

No transfer of the county’s road-right-of-way is planned; commissioners emphasized preserving county road access while allowing the DNR to own and manage the boat landing portion of the property.

Board members characterized the project as a community improvement that may require additional negotiations and legal work before the DNR takes ownership of the parcel.