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Crow Wing County board approves reclassification and sale of tax‑forfeited parcels after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing required by state law, Crow Wing County commissioners voted to reclassify multiple tax‑forfeited parcels from conservation to non‑conservation and place them on the countyauction list, with sale dates set for mid‑August.
The Crow Wing County Board of Commissioners voted July 14 to reclassify several tax‑forfeited parcels and move them toward public sale after a statutorily required public hearing.
Tom, a Land Services staff member, told the board that Land Services identified parcels that met the countyLand Asset Management Policy criteria for divestment — parcels that join private property, are inaccessible to the public, or are isolated from other county‑managed lands. He said the county sent notices to cities and townships in January, March and April and that six parcels were denied by local jurisdictions, which triggers the public‑hearing requirement under Minnesota statute 282.01 subdivision 1(h). "Once we identify these parcels that fit the criteria for divestment," he told commissioners, the county must hold the hearing and then may "classify, reclassify, or deny taking action on any of these parcels for sale."
No township or resident testimony altered the staff recommendation at the hearing, so the board adopted the accompanying resolution to: reclassify the identified parcels from conservation to non‑conservation, remove memorial‑forest designations where applicable, move certain parcels from the over‑the‑counter list to the auction list, and set the sale window as August 14–24 for the 2026 list. Land Services staff noted parcels can still be withdrawn before sale and that the DNR and several cities and townships had been notified.
The action followed routine procedure outlined by staff. The planning and asset inventory work aims to consolidate county holdings so larger, contiguous blocks remain available for public management while isolated or landlocked parcels return to the tax rolls.
What happens next: staff will publish sale terms and dates and proceed with the auction process; parcels denied previously by cities and townships remain eligible for reconsideration through the statutory process. The boardtook a recorded voice vote and adopted the resolution.
