Crow Wing County has continued to work through the list of
tax forfeited properties they hold in an attempt to sell as many properties as
possible off their list. In Breezy Point
we have a great deal of tax forfeited lots and parcels and a number of these
are of interest to the city for various reasons.
Much like the general public, the city is required to pay
for tax forfeited properties if acquired.
Some counties will make tax forfeited properties available at no cost
for public purposes. From a county
perspective the granting of properties at no cost places a “deed restriction”
on the property as the property can only be used for the purpose it was
granted. The county is then obligated to
assure that use continues for a period of 25 years. If the property’s use changes, the property
reverts back to the county. This takes
time and effort to accomplish the annual review so a number of years ago the
county changed their policy to require all tax forfeited properties to be sold
at market rate. If the city purchases
the property and at a later date determines it no longer has a need for it, it
can be sold.
I had previously discussed the purchase of properties in the
city hall campus area. The city also had
an interest in two large lots that were adjacent to the wastewater treatment
facility, south of the minimum maintenance road of Delaware Trail. The two lots combined include about 4 acres
of land and had a purchase price of $12,700.
It was felt these properties would give the city access to the
Wastewater Treatment Facility from the north but also created a buffer between
residential properties and the plant.
The City Council agreed to purchase these properties and will do so
using funds from the Sewer Capital Fund.
