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State Land Office urges Grant County to enroll in road-amnesty program before June 30 deadline
Summary
A State Land Office presenter told commissioners the road-amnesty fee is $116 per lot through June 30 and will increase July 1; enrollment can legalize unpermitted roads on state trust lands and make them eligible for state or federal funding, staff said.
A State Land Office representative told the Grant County Board of Commissioners at its June 9 work session that a reduced “road amnesty” fee to legalize roads across state trust lands will expire June 30 and that counties must enroll promptly to preserve a discounted rate.
The presenter explained the program allows counties to convert multiple roads into a single right-of-way instrument and, for counties that enroll under the amnesty, to pay a substantially reduced fee. “Normally a road right-of-way is charged at standard rates; the amnesty program reduced that to $116 per lot and provided for the roads for so long as they’re being used as county roads,” the presenter said. The presenter warned the fee will increase after June 30 and the term will change to 99 years under the new rates.
Why it matters: County staff said about 72 miles (reported in the presentation as ~382,000 feet) of county roads appear on the county inventory as unimproved or unpermitted and enrolling could make those roads eligible for state or federal funding that requires properly permitted rights-of-way. Commissioners asked whether non-participation triggers penalties; the presenter said there is no enforcement capability by the land office but future commissioners or a future commissioner could pursue litigation; the office prefers cooperative enrollment and flexible payment plans.
Costs and timing: The presenter said the one-time county cost to enroll before June 30 is roughly $26,000; if the county delays the cost would rise (presenter estimated about $46,000 after June 30). He added the land office could honor the lower fee if the county begins working through the certification process prior to the deadline.
Next steps: Commissioners discussed coordinating county certification, mapping and a “true up” of county mileage with the State Land Office and planned to consider enrollment in the coming weeks to preserve the reduced fee if desired.
Provenance: Presentation and Q&A at the June 9 work session (State Land Office presenter).
