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 county would gain access to the otherwise landlocked trust parcels.

The map Foley displayed showed the parcel the county would receive and highlighted the trust parcels currently without legal timber access. Foley said opening that access would allow active timber management on stands that otherwise could not be harvested and would also open some shoreline and recreational access near Moose Lake that currently has no legal public access. "All of that would be opened up as well," Foley said of the shoreline and recreation opportunities.

Commissioners asked technical questions about how timber value is accounted for in the swap. One committee member asked whether timber-value assessments would be deducted from the cash difference the landowner must pay; Foley said timber is accounted for but that, in this case, the landowner agreed to the proposed adjustment, simplifying the exchange. Foley cautioned that a timber assessment is required before the county submits the trade package to the land exchange board.

Foley also asked the board to approve reclassification of the parcels involved. He reviewed the classification process: tax-forfeited land is initially classified as conservation and may be reclassified as nonconservation to permit sale or transfer; the county then submits classification decisions to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for review. Foley described a separate mapping anomaly in the city of Bemidji (an approximately 8-acre parcel that includes road rights-of-way and an arena footprint) and proposed breaking off small fingers to clear encroachments and allow adjoining owners or the city to acquire needed pieces.

A commissioner moved to approve the classification of the identified parcels from conservation to nonconservation; the motion was seconded and the board voted voice 'Aye' to approve the reclassification. The transcript records the vote as 'Aye' but does not supply an exact roll-call tally for the motion.

No member of the public offered objections during the hearing. Foley said subsequent steps will include placing one or more resolutions on a future consent agenda and, if the county proceeds, submitting the final trade package (including the timber assessment) to the state land exchange board, which includes the governor, state auditor and attorney general, for final approval. Foley told commissioners they may pull any related resolution from consent if they want further discussion.

Commissioners concluded the meeting with routine reports on regional meetings, a Bemidji State University tree-planting event, and local boards; the meeting adjourned after a motion to do so.

Votes at a glance - Motion to open public hearing: carried (voice vote recorded as 'Aye'). - Motion to close public hearing: carried (voice vote recorded as 'Aye'). - Motion to approve classification of parcels from conservation to nonconservation: carried (voice vote recorded as 'Aye'; exact tally not specified).