Commissioners pause planned sale of Durham Creek boat landing for 90 days amid community interest

County staff briefed the board on the history and legal constraints of the old Durham Creek boat landing, noting a deed restriction that required public auction when the property ceased to be used as a public landing. Landon Bryant reviewed the deed terms and said the Wildlife Resources Commission declined to accept the site because wetlands and access made it infeasible for them to meet their standards.

Members of the board and residents said the ramp remains used by boaters and urged the county to slow the disposal process to allow community-led solutions. The county attorney explained statutory limits: to enter a lease to a private individual the county would have to certify the property is no longer needed for public use; nonprofit arrangements require a different legal analysis and could be possible.

Because of sustained community interest, a commissioner moved to postpone the planned auction for 90 days so a nonprofit or community group could consider taking on maintenance or a lease; another commissioner seconded. The board voted to postpone the sale for 90 days, effectively canceling the auction scheduled for courthouse steps on June 23 and giving the public time to organize and present alternatives.

The discussion emphasized constraints in options — wetlands limit redevelopment and deed language requires public auction absent a properly structured nonprofit or public entity — and left the board direction open: staff and the county attorney may return with legal options for leasing to properly structured nonprofit groups or next steps if the community does not coalesce around a steward.

Next steps: the board’s action pauses the disposal process for 90 days and asks staff to follow up on community proposals or present legal pathways for leasing to eligible nonprofit entities.