Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pine County board approves Land Advisory Committee recommendations, sets aside tax-forfeit proceeds
Summary
The Pine County Board approved multiple Land Advisory Committee recommendations including withdrawing unsold tax-forfeit parcels from sale, designating a parcel as Memorial Forest, and setting aside portions of tax-forfeit/timber sale revenues for blight cleanup, timber development and parks; the motion passed 4-1.
The Pine County Board of Commissioners on March 3 approved a package of recommendations from its Land Advisory Committee that will reshape how the county manages tax-forfeit land and timber-sale revenue.
The board voted to adopt Resolution 2026-10 to withdraw unsold parcels from past tax-forfeit public land auctions effective July 10, 2026, and Resolution 2026-09 to classify parcel PID 20.0052.000 as conservation land and designate it as Memorial Forest. Commissioners also approved revisions to the county Park, Trail and Recreation Fund policy and the Demolition and Clean-up (blight) policy, and passed Resolution 2026-11 setting aside revenue percentages from tax-forfeit and timber sales for specific purposes: 7.5% for blight cleanup, 7.5% for timber development, and 20% for acquisition and maintenance of county parks, trails and recreational areas.
Commissioner Matt Ludwig presented the Land Advisory Committee report and moved approval of the committee’s recommendations; Commissioner Roger Nelson seconded. The board approved the motion by roll call 4-1, with Commissioner JJ Waldhalm recording the lone dissent.
Commissioner Nelson noted that Land Commissioner Beck had provided the committee with an in-depth departmental activity report and that the committee discussed Minnesota Department of Natural Resources projects on trail bridges and rising bridge costs; Nelson asked whether funds should be redirected because bridge costs are high in multiple counties.
The resolutions change how Pine County will manage some tax-forfeit properties and dedicate a permanent share of certain revenues toward blight remediation, timber development, and parks and trails. The board did not adopt any immediate parcel sales as part of these votes; Resolution 2026-10 withdraws unsold parcels from future sale lists effective July 10, 2026.
The board’s recorded vote was: Ludwig—Aye; Hallan—Aye; Mohr—Aye; Nelson—Aye; Waldhalm—Nay. The vote completes the county-level action; implementation steps such as administrative orders and any necessary land classification updates will follow through county staff.
