Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council returns unused tax-forfeit parcel to state after reviewing options
Summary
The council approved Resolution 26-16 to reconvey a tax-forfeit parcel acquired in 2022 back to the state after concluding it had not been used for the planned parking/trail purpose; public comment raised regional concerns about a nearby data-center proposal.
Rice Lake — The council voted to return a tax-forfeit parcel the city acquired in 2022 to the state after staff reported the parcel has not been put to use as originally envisioned (public parking or trails on Martin Road).
Staff said reconveyance is preferable to purchasing the parcel at market rate if the city does not intend to develop it; the council moved and approved Resolution 26-16 to reconvey the property. The parcel is adjacent to a factory (as described in public comment) and staff said the city had earlier considered acquiring adjacent tax-forfeit acreage but agreed not to pursue it now unless the county later lists the property for sale.
During public comment, resident Jeremy Thompson urged councilors to pay attention to broader regional proposals — he raised concerns about a large data-center development proposal in the area, potential stress on the power grid, and the distribution of benefits and costs across communities. He asked the council to review reports and regional votes tied to that development before further action on land use.
Council approved returning the parcel by voice vote.
Next steps: staff will proceed with reconveyance paperwork and notify adjacent property stakeholders as required.
