Contingent on a state grant, Oneida county is working toward finalizing a deal that largely gets them 231 acres of prime land, including lakes, in the town of Enterprise for about $150,000.
Supervisor Jack Sorenson asked the board to approve the purchase of several tracts of land already located within the county forest land in Enterprise.
Two landowners, the Haug and Houle families, had approached the county earlier this year about selling the adjoining properties. Sorenson said after appraisal, the county was able to get accepted offers totaling $910,000. But the offers are contingent on the county getting a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grant for half of the purchase price. Part of the grant allows in-kind contributions, which total more than $150,000 of some current county parcels which can be put into forest land.
Sorenson says another offset to the cost would be the sale of the abandoned Town Line Lake park off Highway "K" west of Rhinelander..
"....the timeline may not come together in a perfect world. But that $143,000 would bring(the Enterprise purchase) down to $150,000..."
The initial tree cutting would net about $90,000 more. The town of Enterprise signed off on the deal.
Supervisor Scott Holowinski was against the deal, saying it would take more land off the tax rolls and other county projects need to be done first. When the vote was taken, the purchase was approved 17-4. It could be finalized one year from now contingent on getting $455,000 in grant money.
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