Beltrami County hears land-exchange plan to open access to roughly 330 acres, approves parcel reclassification

Beltrami County commissioners heard a staff proposal to exchange two parcels so the county could gain legal access to roughly 330 acres of tax-forfeited land and voted to reclassify certain tax-forfeited parcels from conservation to nonconservation to allow the transfer process to proceed. Shane Foley, director of natural resources management, presented the proposal during a public hearing and fielded questions from commissioners.

Foley said the swap would trade a county-administered parcel in Alaska Township for privately held parcels in Jones Township (three parcels totaling about 130 acres). Foley told commissioners the private parcel’s total value was about $321,500 and the northern parcel showed a reported value of about $336,000; he said the landowner agreed to pay roughly $14,000 to equalize values and that a timber-value assessment will be included in the package sent to the state land exchange board. "It's kind of a no brainer," Foley said of the trade given the…