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Supervisor Wants Dozens of VC Lots Put Up For Sale

Vilas county-Google Map

Vilas county board supervisor Jerry Burkett is a long time Eagle River area realtor. Burkett made a presentation at Tuesday's board meeting for the county to look at selling off dozens of parcels that are under county control, most of which have been forgotten.

Burkett says he spent more than 100 hours putting together the report. As an example,  one lot near the wastewater plant is owned by the county. He says the view of the plant isn't the most enticing, but...

".....100 feet of frontage. That lot is right across from the sewer plant. Everybody wants to build and look at the sewer plant. However, it's on the (Eagle River) Chain. That lot needs to be sold...."

Burkett says it isn't the job of county foresters to take care of these parcels, instead saying the county should look at marketing them...

"...should we own this land or not own this land? I found numerous parcels that I feel could be marketed, placed on the tax rolls, bring tax relief to the townships and the county that don't affect in my opinion, the forest...."

The county came into possession of the lots through a variety of ways over time. Most are without prime development potential, but they remain inactive and often unknown parcels. Burkett says the county should put together a committee to work toward selling off the parcels. He said a deed restriction would prohibit the lot from going into state Managed Forest Land, or non-taxable land.

All told, Burkett estimated the parcels total more than $1 million in value. Burkett says he can't sell them due to a conflict of interest, but the county should put full effort into marketing them.

The board took no action on Burkett's report.

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