Agenda - Council - 11/22/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2022 282.01 282.01 TAX -FORFEITED LANDS; CLASSIFICATION, SALE. Subdivision 1. Classification as conservation or nonconservation. (a) When acting on behalf of the state under laws allowing the county board to classify and manage tax -forfeited lands held by the state in trust for the local units as provided in section 281.25, the county board has the discretion to decide that some lands in public ownership should be retained and managed for public benefits while other lands should be returned to private ownership. Parcels of land becoming the property of the state in trust under law declaring the forfeiture of lands to the state for taxes must be classified by the county board of the county in which the parcels lie as conservation or nonconservation. In making the classification the board shall consider the present use of adjacent lands, the productivity of the soil, the character of forest or other growth, accessibility of lands to established roads, schools, and other public services, their peculiar suitability or desirability for particular uses, and the suitability of the forest resources on the land for multiple use and sustained yield management. The classification, furthermore, must: (1) encourage and foster a mode of land utilization that will facilitate the economical and adequate provision of transportation, roads, water supply, drainage, sanitation, education, and recreation; (2) facilitate reduction of governmental expenditures; (3) conserve and develop the natural resources; and (4) foster and develop agriculture and other industries in the districts and places best suited to them. (b) Whenever the county board deems it appropriate, the board may hold a meeting for the purpose of reclassifying tax -forfeited land that has not been sold or released from the trust. The criteria and procedures for reclassification are the same as those required for an initial classification. (c) Prior to meeting for the purpose of classifying or reclassifying tax -forfeited lands, the county board must give notice of its intent to meet for that purpose as provided in this paragraph. The notice must be given no more than 90 days and no less than 60 days before the date of the meeting; provided that if the meeting is rescheduled, notice of the new date, time, and location must be given at least 14 days before the date of the rescheduled meeting. The notice must be posted on a website. The notice must also be mailed or otherwise delivered to each person who has filed a request for notice of special meetings with the public body, regardless of whether the matter is considered at a regular or special meeting. The notice must be mailed or delivered at least 60 days before the date of the meeting. If the meeting is rescheduled, notice of the new date, time, and location must be mailed or delivered at least 14 days before the date of the rescheduled meeting. The public body shall publish the notice once, at least 30 days before the meeting, in a newspaper of general circulation within the area of the public body's authority. The board must also mail a notice by electronic means to each person who requests notice of meetings dealing with this subject and who agrees as provided in chapter 325L to accept notice that is mailed by electronic means. Receipt of actual notice under the conditions specified in section 13D.04, subdivision 7, satisfies the notice requirements of this paragraph. The board may classify or reclassify tax -forfeited lands at any regular or special meeting, as those terms are defined in chapter 13D and may conduct only this business, or this business as well as other business or activities at the meeting. (d) At the meeting, the county board must allow any person or agency possessing pertinent information to make or submit comments and recommendations about the pending classification or reclassification. In addition, representatives of governmental entities in attendance must be allowed to describe plans, ideas, or projects that may involve use or acquisition of the property by that or another governmental entity. The county board must solicit and consider any relevant components of current municipal or metropolitan comprehensive land use plans that incorporate the area in which the land is located. After allowing testimony, the board may classify, reclassify, or delay taking action on any parcel or parcels. In order for a state agency or a governmental subdivision of the state to preserve its right to request a purchase or other acquisition of Official Publication of the State of Minnesota Revisor of Statutes