Pine City mayor says property was conveyed without authority; attorney engaged to correct title

Pine City’s mayor told the council the city must correct a previously completed property transfer after staff determined the council lacked authority to convey the land and that the action "violated state statute." The mayor said the city attorney has been engaged to outline options and next steps.

The council received a status update on the matter and was told the issue stems from an earlier agenda item in which the council had intended to form a homeowners association (HOA) to manage a parcel but the property was instead conveyed. The mayor said correcting the error will take staff time and expense and that the city will seek a title search and a legal path forward.

"This was done inappropriately ... the property was given away which we didn't have the authority to do that we violated state statute," the mayor said, reporting the city attorney has provided options for how to proceed.

City staff said they will return to the council with an estimate of title-search costs and a timeline at a future meeting so the council may decide whether to proceed with corrective action. The mayor said the matter will be on a future meeting agenda and that there are steps the city must complete before the council can direct staff to act.

No ordinance citations or specific statute numbers were provided during the update; the mayor described the reference only as a "state statute." The council did not take formal action during the meeting to rescind or refile the conveyance; the item was presented as an update and staff asked for authorization to pursue the title search and bring findings back for a decision.

The council’s next opportunity to act, according to the mayor, will be the first meeting in June when cost and timing information will be available.