The Oneida County Board Tuesday approved a compromise allowing the Hodag Sports Club and the town of Crescent and the city of Rhinelander to have a part of county land on Rhinelander's far west side.
Known as Heal Creek, it first was proposed as an industrial park next to the city of Rhinelander-owned Northwood Golf Course. The county later decided to sell the property, with bids from the sports club and the government entities. What had been a type of "either or" choice evolved into a compromise, where each group got some land, and an interior portion will be left for recreational purposes.
Former town of Crescent supervisor Joel Knutson was a key person in the proposal and outlines what was approved...
"...the sports club is putting up a little more than $82,000 for the eastern most 80 acres. (Rhinelander) is putting up $60,000 for the 60 acres immediately east and contiguous to the golf course...."
The disputed 127 acres in-between the tracks will be purchased by the Hodag Sports Club. but will place the property into a conservation easement that was negotiated by the Northwoods Land Trust in Eagle River. All the property was purchased at about $1,000 per acre on average.
The asking price for the parcel was $282,000
