Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Acquisition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Adams County board backs DNR plan to acquire 20 acres in Town of Easton
Summary
The board voted to send a resolution supporting a proposed 20‑acre acquisition by the Department of Natural Resources in the Town of Easton that would bridge part of the Quincy Bluff and Wetlands State Natural Area; supervisors raised questions about tax treatment and funding before approving the resolution by voice vote.
The Adams County board voted to send a resolution in support of a proposed Department of Natural Resources acquisition of a 20‑acre parcel in the Town of Easton that would connect tracts of the Quincy Bluff and Wetlands State Natural Area and improve public access.
Colton, the county Land & Water staff member who presented the item, said the DNR intends to manage the parcel for oak‑pine barrens and prescribed burning to support habitat for species including the Kirkland’s warbler. He told supervisors the DNR provided a finance calculation showing the parcel’s payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes (PILT) payment differs from the current property tax because the PILT is calculated under state statute for DNR lands acquired after Dec. 31, 1991.
“It's based on the assessed value, which is then adjusted by the level of assessment for the town,” Colton said, explaining the DNR finance method. He also noted Knowles‑Nelson funding had been used previously to purchase public recreation lands but that a contract tied to Knowles‑Nelson had been paused as of June 30, 2026.
Supervisors asked for additional detail about the attachment accompanying the staff report. One supervisor noted an Eastern Lake District line item in the DNR attachment for a parcel that is not adjacent to Eastern Lake and asked why the tax distribution showed that district. Colton offered to contact the DNR staff who prepared the attachment to clarify the line item.
Supervisor Sam Sandelstedt asked about assessed value and purchase price; Colton said the parcel is assessed at $77,000 and that, under the rules tied to Knowles‑Nelson funding, DNR acquisitions generally cannot exceed assessed value. The board did not record a roll‑call tally for the resolution; the motion was seconded by Supervisor Jay Turkel and passed on a voice vote.
Colton also reminded the board that state statute requires county approval if DNR ownership in a township crosses a specified threshold (discussed in the meeting as roughly 30–35%); he estimated that adding this 20‑acre parcel would bring the Quincy area close to that threshold and, if crossed, would require county approval for further acquisitions.
The board’s decision is a recommendation that will go to the state board, which has the final approval authority on the DNR land acquisition.
