County looks at selling nine parcels

The central topic during the March 21 Waseca county commissioner meeting was the sale of nine parcels of county-owned land. Authorization took place in February; the system and process for the sale became the focus of attention.  The nine parcels are being made available for purchase because they cannot be developed for public use. They are Boucher Access (parcel # 02.02.70600), Boucher (02.02.61100), Felske (06.01.30400), Gekeler (08.00.91300), Smith's Mill Park (06.02.91600), St. Mary's (09.03.41100), Donated Land (01.00.11100), Donated Land (05.03.01110), and Donated Land (12004110).

After authorization for the sales was in place, county staff conferred with Rupp, Anderson, Squires, Waldspurger & Mace, P.A regarding various legal aspects of the sales. Based on the firm’s advice, county staff recommended that the properties be offered to potential buyers who own adjoining properties. The parcels must be sold to the highest bidder, and that bid must be no less than 90% of the fair market value for the land as determined by the County Assessor. All adjoining landowners must also be given notice of the sale 30 days prior to the opening of bids. County staff recommended this option because the Smith's Mill Park parcel is noncompliant with the Waseca County Unified Developed Code and currently deemed a “legal nonconforming parcel.” This is because it is landlocked by private properties and access cannot be guaranteed to a purchaser whose property does not make up part of its border.

The board of commissioners then discussed the sale of the Smith's Mill Park parcel in-depth. The fair market value, determined by examining comparable parcels and using the median sale value, was set at $2,199 per acre. The parcel is 30 acres, about 80% of which is wetland. Commissioner Christopherson moved to place a covenant on the deed that the land would be left in its “natural vegetative state,” which Commissioner Harguth expressed his agreement to, stating the county should not risk losing more cover in its land. Maame Yorke, of Planning and Zoning, weighed in to remind the board that wetland laws would already heavily restrict the development options of the land and said she was concerned further restrictions would make the parcel impossible to sell. Christopherson expressed his worry that the rules she referenced would change and that natural land would be lost if no covenant were placed on the deed. The board agreed to place the covenant, citing that if it did not sell a second attempt with less restrictive terms could be made.

County Administrator Johnson said the 30-day notice to adjoining landowners, all of whom Commissioner Malterer says are farmers, would be sent immediately.