For the City Times

The Department of Natural Resources is offering seven state-owned parcels of land for public auction through Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016.

In February 2016, the Natural Resources Board approved phase two of land sales. Phase Two included 81 parcels, totaling approximately 5,633 acres. Of these 81 parcels, 33 were landlocked with no legal access from a road and will be marketed to adjoining property owners, while 24 were to be marketed for government sale only to counties, cities or townships (both landlocked and accessible).

Lastly, 24 of the parcels were made deemed accessible for public sale to the general public with restrictions. Counties, cities and townships have a first right to purchase these parcels for the minimum transaction value.

Six of these approved properties are now being offered for auction and have been posted for bid as Auction #16612-70 on www.WisconsinSurplus.com.

An additional parcel from phase one of land sales (40 acre parcel in Lincoln County) is also posted for public sale within the auction. The bidding process for these parcels will close Thurs., Sept. 15, 2016 starting at 10 AM.

Parcels available for auction are located in Adams, Bayfield, Dunn, Florence, Green Lake and Lincoln counties, and range from 4.3 to 40 acres. All properties are accessible by a state, county or town road. The title may transfer subject to certain restrictions such as county snowmobile easements, DNR access easements, DNR streambank easements, mineral rights reservation or no development requirements on certain portions of the parcel or property.

All parcels will be sold “as is,” and it is the bidder’s responsibility to determine condition and any defects. The department will provide a title policy to the buyer. Specific property information, along with maps and photographs are viewable on the Wisconsin Surplus Online Auction website.

The sale of select department-owned lands will help resolve key boundary and access issues, realign land ownership with conservation partners and private citizens for more efficient management, and allow the department to work closely with partner and stakeholder organizations to meet common property and conservation goals.

The land sale program is carried out by the department in compliance with Wisconsin Act 20, which requires that the Natural Resources Board offer for sale at least 10,000 acres located outside of project boundaries by June 30, 2017.

The department’s land sale policy was shaped by public comments received at five informational meetings held throughout the state in October 2013 and by comments received through the public policy page of the DNR website.

The Natural Resources Board approved the final policy in December 2013.

For more information regarding the department’s land sale program under Act 20, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords “land sales.”