Town of
Land Exchange
Background in Brief
In 2000 citizens of the unorganized area of
Land Exchange Participants
To comply with FS requirements a Corporation was formed uniting the 3
participants as determined by the FS.
The FS deals only with the Corporation and not individuals. Butch Eggen
owner of property in Buyck will exchange for property adjoining his home site,
Bill Congdon will exchange his property in
Purpose of Acquired Land
Eighty acres would be acquired by the Town in the exchange. Land would be plotted for the CLVFD to become
property owners for their Fire Station.
The land housing the telephone building would be sold to the phone
company or continue to be leased on a rental basis. A section of land will be set aside for a
community building/town hall with green space for park activities. Land would be divided into buildable lots for
homes increasing the town’s tax base generating income to the Town.
Financing
There are expenses with the exchange as well as upgrading the trail
system. A fund was established
(Community Project/Trails) in the Town’s budget projecting to cover expenses as
they occur. It was also necessary to
purchase land to exchange for the land to be received. Payment for the land was possible by a bank loan. Payment for the loan of interest only is made
from the Community Project account. When
the exchange is completed and the land is available for the town to sell,
payment made for the lots will be used to pay down on the loan eventually
satisfying the loan and providing income to the Town.
Town of
It was decided early in the exchange process that a professional plan
for the land use be developed. To develop the plan a grant was received from
the Northeast Minnesota Sustainable Development Partnership (NMSDP) in the
amount of $30,000. At no cost to the
taxpayers the Center for Changing Landscapes a division of the University of
Minnesota was contacted and by holding Town meetings for citizen input and on
site visits by the University professionals a plan was developed for the town
including the land to be received, a trails system and updating Gold Coast
Road. Primary interest of the university
professionals was to establish a plan desired by and reflecting the wishes of
the town’s citizens and not something outsiders designed. This plan with diagrams and maps is available
from the Town Clerk JoAnn Pohlman.
Benefits of the Land Exchange
to
1.) The Town of Crane Lake will expand its tax base. Not only the land received by the town and
eventually sold to private individuals but the land received by the other two participants
will immediately be on the tax rolls.
2.) Land housing the telephone building will be either sold to the
Phone Company or continue to be leased generating income for the town.
3.) Legal building lots when sold will generate income for the town
which benefits all the citizens of the community.
4.) Part of the land will be set aside for a town hall, community
center, and green space for a playground and picnic area. At this time public meetings are held at the
Crane Lake Chapel which does not accommodate a large crowd. This is a long
range plan and may not be achieved in the immediate future.
5.) Completion of the exchange will encourage growth expansion of the
Crane Lake Water and Sanitary District.
This will improve waste disposal conditions and water quality in the
area, as well as assist the sanitary district’s financial condition.
6.) Acquisition of the federal lands within the Town of Crane Lake is
in accord with the wishes of the Town’s long range community action plan dated
2001
7.) This exchange is considered a win-win situation.
July 10, 2009
Prepared by:
Ruth L Carlson Phone –
218-993-2424
7514 Rocky Road E-mail –
rcarlson36@citlink.net