Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Forest Land Sales topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ashland County committee extends timber sales, opens process to consider selling swamp parcel in exchange for boat-access easement
Summary
The Parks & Recreation committee approved one-year extensions for timber sales because last winter’s snow conditions delayed work, accepted a revised trail-maintenance contract, and authorized staff to research a possible sale of a ~22-acre north parcel in exchange for a formal public boat-access easement; the full county board will be involved if a sale proceeds.
The Ashland County Parks & Recreation committee voted to extend timber-sale contracts for one year and agreed to explore a potential land sale that could secure a formal public boat-access easement.
Staff told the committee that poor snow conditions last season delayed timber-sale work and final billing, and recommended extending all active timber sales for one year at no price increase to allow completion. After discussion about winter logging conditions and timber-production timing, the committee approved the one-year extensions by voice vote. The committee also reviewed timber-establishment activity on Masterson Fire Lane and Trot Road and noted the county’s preparations for the 2026 certification audit.
The committee accepted a cleaned-up three-year trail-maintenance contract used with the local alliance (the contract renews automatically after three years unless revised) and approved committee-level sign-off so staff can move forward.
Separately, staff reported on five recently purchased parcels that have been surveyed for inclusion in the county forest program. A neighboring landowner, identified in the record as Vincent Baron, asked whether the county would consider selling roughly the north half of one 40-acre tract (staff estimated about 22 acres, described as largely swamp), and offered to record a written easement on his property to formalize a long-used public boat landing in exchange.
Committee members noted that state statute makes it difficult to remove land from the county forest program and stressed the need for a transparent process. Staff recommended public advertising and bidding as a likely route but also said an attorney opinion could clarify whether a negotiated sale or trade for an easement would be allowable without standard advertisement. The committee instructed staff to investigate legal options, valuation, and a public-process approach and to return with recommendations; any sale would require full county-board approval.
Next steps: staff will seek legal guidance on the sale process and evaluate options for acquiring a recorded easement for the boat landing. The committee said it will consider the staff report before deciding whether to place a sale on the full board’s agenda.
