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Chapter 282

Section 282.04

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282.04 TIMBER SALES; LAND USE, LEASE, PARTITION, EASEMENT.
    Subdivision 1. Timber sales; land leases and uses. (a) The county auditor may sell timber
upon any tract that may be approved by the natural resources commissioner. The sale of timber
shall be made for cash at not less than the appraised value determined by the county board to the
highest bidder after not less than one week's published notice in an official paper within the county.
Any timber offered at the public sale and not sold may thereafter be sold at private sale by the
county auditor at not less than the appraised value thereof, until the time as the county board may
withdraw the timber from sale. The appraised value of the timber and the forestry practices to be
followed in the cutting of said timber shall be approved by the commissioner of natural resources.
    (b) Payment of the full sale price of all timber sold on tax-forfeited lands shall be made in
cash at the time of the timber sale, except in the case of oral or sealed bid auction sales, the
down payment shall be no less than 15 percent of the appraised value, and the balance shall
be paid prior to entry. In the case of auction sales that are partitioned and sold as a single sale
with predetermined cutting blocks, the down payment shall be no less than 15 percent of the
appraised price of the entire timber sale which may be held until the satisfactory completion
of the sale or applied in whole or in part to the final cutting block. The value of each separate
block must be paid in full before any cutting may begin in that block. With the permission of the
county contract administrator the purchaser may enter unpaid blocks and cut necessary timber
incidental to developing logging roads as may be needed to log other blocks provided that no
timber may be removed from an unpaid block until separately scaled and paid for. If payment
is provided as specified in this paragraph as security under paragraph (a) and no cutting has
taken place on the contract, the county auditor may credit the security provided, less any down
payment required for an auction sale under this paragraph, to any other contract issued to the
contract holder by the county under this chapter to which the contract holder requests in writing
that it be credited, provided the request and transfer is made within the same calendar year as
the security was received.
    (c) The county board may sell any timber, including biomass, as appraised or scaled. Any
parcels of land from which timber is to be sold by scale of cut products shall be so designated
in the published notice of sale under paragraph (a), in which case the notice shall contain a
description of the parcels, a statement of the estimated quantity of each species of timber, and the
appraised price of each species of timber for 1,000 feet, per cord or per piece, as the case may be.
In those cases any bids offered over and above the appraised prices shall be by percentage, the
percent bid to be added to the appraised price of each of the different species of timber advertised
on the land. The purchaser of timber from the parcels shall pay in cash at the time of sale at the
rate bid for all of the timber shown in the notice of sale as estimated to be standing on the land,
and in addition shall pay at the same rate for any additional amounts which the final scale shows
to have been cut or was available for cutting on the land at the time of sale under the terms of the
sale. Where the final scale of cut products shows that less timber was cut or was available for
cutting under terms of the sale than was originally paid for, the excess payment shall be refunded
from the forfeited tax sale fund upon the claim of the purchaser, to be audited and allowed by the
county board as in case of other claims against the county. No timber, except hardwood pulpwood,
may be removed from the parcels of land or other designated landings until scaled by a person or
persons designated by the county board and approved by the commissioner of natural resources.
Landings other than the parcel of land from which timber is cut may be designated for scaling by
the county board by written agreement with the purchaser of the timber. The county board may,
by written agreement with the purchaser and with a consumer designated by the purchaser when
the timber is sold by the county auditor, and with the approval of the commissioner of natural
resources, accept the consumer's scale of cut products delivered at the consumer's landing. No
timber shall be removed until fully paid for in cash. Small amounts of timber not exceeding
$3,000 in appraised valuation may be sold for not less than the full appraised value at private sale
to individual persons without first publishing notice of sale or calling for bids, provided that in
case of a sale involving a total appraised value of more than $200 the sale shall be made subject to
final settlement on the basis of a scale of cut products in the manner above provided and not more
than two of the sales, directly or indirectly to any individual shall be in effect at one time.
    (d) As directed by the county board, the county auditor may lease tax-forfeited land to
individuals, corporations or organized subdivisions of the state at public or private sale, and at the
prices and under the terms as the county board may prescribe, for use as cottage and camp sites
and for agricultural purposes and for the purpose of taking and removing of hay, stumpage, sand,
gravel, clay, rock, marl, and black dirt from the land, and for garden sites and other temporary uses
provided that no leases shall be for a period to exceed ten years; provided, further that any leases
involving a consideration of more than $12,000 per year, except to an organized subdivision of
the state shall first be offered at public sale in the manner provided herein for sale of timber. Upon
the sale of any leased land, it shall remain subject to the lease for not to exceed one year from the
beginning of the term of the lease. Any rent paid by the lessee for the portion of the term cut off
by the cancellation shall be refunded from the forfeited tax sale fund upon the claim of the lessee,
to be audited and allowed by the county board as in case of other claims against the county.
    (e) As directed by the county board, the county auditor may lease tax-forfeited land to
individuals, corporations, or organized subdivisions of the state at public or private sale, at the
prices and under the terms as the county board may prescribe, for the purpose of taking and
removing for use for road construction and other purposes tax-forfeited stockpiled iron-bearing
material. The county auditor must determine that the material is needed and suitable for use in
the construction or maintenance of a road, tailings basin, settling basin, dike, dam, bank fill, or
other works on public or private property, and that the use would be in the best interests of the
public. No lease shall exceed ten years. The use of a stockpile for these purposes must first
be approved by the commissioner of natural resources. The request shall be deemed approved
unless the requesting county is notified to the contrary by the commissioner of natural resources
within six months after receipt of a request for approval for use of a stockpile. Once use of a
stockpile has been approved, the county may continue to lease it for these purposes until approval
is withdrawn by the commissioner of natural resources.
    (f) The county auditor, with the approval of the county board is authorized to grant permits,
licenses, and leases to tax-forfeited lands for the depositing of stripping, lean ores, tailings, or
waste products from mines or ore milling plants, upon the conditions and for the consideration
and for the period of time, not exceeding 15 years, as the county board may determine. The
permits, licenses, or leases are subject to approval by the commissioner of natural resources.
    (g) Any person who removes any timber from tax-forfeited land before said timber has been
scaled and fully paid for as provided in this subdivision is guilty of a misdemeanor.
    (h) The county auditor may, with the approval of the county board, and without first
offering at public sale, grant leases, for a term not exceeding 25 years, for the removal of peat
and for the production or removal of farm-grown closed-loop biomass as defined in section
216B.2424, subdivision 1, or short-rotation woody crops from tax-forfeited lands upon the
terms and conditions as the county board may prescribe. Any lease for the removal of peat,
farm-grown closed-loop biomass, or short-rotation woody crops from tax-forfeited lands must
first be reviewed and approved by the commissioner of natural resources if the lease covers 320 or
more acres. No lease for the removal of peat, farm-grown closed-loop biomass, or short-rotation
woody crops shall be made by the county auditor pursuant to this section without first holding a
public hearing on the auditor's intention to lease. One printed notice in a legal newspaper in the
county at least ten days before the hearing, and posted notice in the courthouse at least 20 days
before the hearing shall be given of the hearing.
    (i) Notwithstanding any provision of paragraph (c) to the contrary, the St. Louis County
auditor may, at the discretion of the county board, sell timber to the party who bids the highest
price for all the several kinds of timber, as provided for sales by the commissioner of natural
resources under section 90.14. Bids offered over and above the appraised price need not be
applied proportionately to the appraised price of each of the different species of timber.
    (j) In lieu of any payment or deposit required in paragraph (b), as directed by the county
board and under terms set by the county board, the county auditor may accept an irrevocable
bank letter of credit in the amount equal to the amount otherwise determined in paragraph (b).
If an irrevocable bank letter of credit is provided under this paragraph, at the written request of
the purchaser, the county may periodically allow the bank letter of credit to be reduced by an
amount proportionate to the value of timber that has been harvested and for which the county has
received payment. The remaining amount of the bank letter of credit after a reduction under this
paragraph must not be less than 20 percent of the value of the timber purchased. If an irrevocable
bank letter of credit or cash deposit is provided for the down payment required in paragraph (b),
and no cutting of timber has taken place on the contract for which a letter of credit has been
provided, the county may allow the transfer of the letter of credit to any other contract issued
to the contract holder by the county under this chapter to which the contract holder requests in
writing that it be credited.
    Subd. 1a. Leasing without bids. The county auditor may within a period of two years
immediately following the date of forfeiture lease tax-forfeited land on which are located
structures or buildings without advertising for bids. Notwithstanding subdivision 1, the property
may be leased for a period no longer than one year without bids, regardless of the consideration
received for the lease. With the approval of the county board, the county auditor may under
similar circumstances enter into a management contract without bids when that action is necessary
for the operation, use or preservation of the property and the safety of the public.
    Subd. 2. Rights before sale; improvements, insurance, demolition. (a) Before the sale
of a parcel of forfeited land the county auditor may, with the approval of the county board of
commissioners, provide for the repair and improvement of any building or structure located upon
the parcel, and may provide for maintenance of tax-forfeited lands, if it is determined by the
county board that such repairs, improvements, or maintenance are necessary for the operation,
use, preservation, and safety of the building or structure.
(b) If so authorized by the county board, the county auditor may insure the building or
structure against loss or damage resulting from fire or windstorm, may purchase workers'
compensation insurance to insure the county against claims for injury to the persons employed in
the building or structure by the county, and may insure the county, its officers and employees
against claims for injuries to persons or property because of the management, use, or operation
of the building or structure.
(c) The county auditor may, with the approval of the county board, provide:
(1) for the demolition of the building or structure, which has been determined by the county
board to be especially liable to fire or so situated as to endanger life or limb or other buildings
or property in the vicinity because of age, dilapidated condition, defective chimney, defective
electric wiring, any gas connection, heating apparatus, or other defect; and
(2) for the sale of salvaged materials from the building or structure.
(d) The county auditor, with the approval of the county board, may provide for the sale of
abandoned personal property. The sale may be made by the sheriff using the procedures for the
sale of abandoned property in section 345.15 or by the county auditor using the procedures
for the sale of abandoned property in section 504B.271. The net proceeds from any sale of the
personal property, salvaged materials, timber or other products, or leases made under this law
must be deposited in the forfeited tax sale fund and must be distributed in the same manner as
if the parcel had been sold.
(e) The county auditor, with the approval of the county board, may provide for the demolition
of any structure on tax-forfeited lands, if in the opinion of the county board, the county auditor,
and the land commissioner, if there is one, the sale of the land with the structure on it, or the
continued existence of the structure by reason of age, dilapidated condition or excessive size as
compared with nearby structures, will result in a material lessening of net tax capacities of real
estate in the vicinity of the tax-forfeited lands, or if the demolition of the structure or structures
will aid in disposing of the tax-forfeited property.
(f) Before the sale of a parcel of forfeited land located in an urban area, the county auditor
may with the approval of the county board provide for the grading of the land by filling or the
removal of any surplus material from it. If the physical condition of forfeited lands is such that a
reasonable grading of the lands is necessary for the protection and preservation of the property of
any adjoining owner, the adjoining property owner or owners may apply to the county board to
have the grading done. If, after considering the application, the county board believes that the
grading will enhance the value of the forfeited lands commensurate with the cost involved, it may
approve it, and the work must be performed under the supervision of the county or city engineer,
as the case may be, and the expense paid from the forfeited tax sale fund.
    Subd. 3. Partition. Where an undivided portion of any parcel of land is forfeited to the
state for taxes, the owner or owners of the portions of said parcel not forfeited, or the state of
Minnesota, may in the manner provided by sections 558.01 to 558.32, maintain an action for the
partition of said parcel making the state or other owners as their interests may appear a defendant
in the action. If the state is made a defendant in the action, the summons shall be served upon the
auditor of the county in which the land is located, and the county attorney shall appear for the state.
    Subd. 4. Easements. The county auditor, when and for such price and on such terms and for
such period as the county board prescribes, may grant easements or permits on unsold tax-forfeited
land for telephone, telegraph, and electric power lines either by underground cable or conduit or
otherwise, sewer and water lines, highways, recreational trails, railroads, and pipe lines for gas,
liquids, or solids in suspension. Any such easement or permit may be canceled by resolution of
the county board after reasonable notice for any substantial breach of its terms or if at any time its
continuance will conflict with public use of the land, or any part thereof, on which it is granted.
Land affected by any such easement or permit may be sold or leased for mineral or other legal
purpose, but sale or lease shall be subject to the easement or permit, and all rights granted by the
easement or permit shall be excepted from the conveyance or lease of the land and be reserved,
and may be canceled by the county board in the same manner and for the same reasons as it
could have been canceled before sale and in that case the rights granted thereby shall vest in the
state in trust as the land on which it was granted was held before sale or lease. Any easement or
permit granted before passage of Laws 1951, Chapter 203, may be governed thereby if the holder
thereof and county board so agree. Reasonable notice as used in this subdivision, means a 90-day
written notice addressed to the record owner of the easement at the last known address, and upon
cancellation the county board may grant extensions of time to vacate the premises affected.
    Subd. 4a. Private easements. (a) A county board may convey a road easement across
unsold tax-forfeited land to an individual requesting an easement for access to private property
owned by the individual if:
(1) there are no reasonable alternatives to obtain access to the individual's property; and
(2) exercising the easement will not cause significant adverse environmental or natural
resource management impacts.
(b) The county auditor shall require an individual applying for an easement under paragraph
(a) to pay the appraised value of the easement. The conveyance must provide that the easement
reverts to the state in trust for the taxing district in the event of nonuse.
    Subd. 5. County not a road authority for roads used for managing certain tax-forfeited
lands. Notwithstanding section 160.02, subdivision 25, a county is not a road authority under
section 160.05 with respect to a road constructed, acquired, maintained, or administered by the
county for the purpose of managing tax-forfeited lands that have been classified as conservation
lands under this chapter.
History: (2139-18) 1935 c 386 s 4; 1939 c 328 s 3; 1941 c 355 s 1; 1943 c 627 s 4; 1945 c
92 s 1; 1945 c 93 s 1; 1951 c 203 s 1,2; 1951 c 534 s 1; 1953 c 111 s 1; 1955 c 653 s 1; 1957 c
346 s 1; 1959 c 453 s 1; 1959 c 454 s 1; 1961 c 594 s 1; 1961 c 718 s 1; 1963 c 415 s 1; 1967 c 90
s 1; 1967 c 269 s 1; 1969 c 1129 art 10 s 2; 1973 c 285 s 1; 1975 c 359 s 23; 1976 c 141 s 1;
1979 c 78 s 1; 1981 c 305 s 12; 1982 c 511 s 29; 1982 c 523 art 39 s 7; 1985 c 9 s 1; 1986 c
444; 1988 c 719 art 5 s 84; 1989 c 329 art 13 s 20; 1993 c 113 art 1 s 3; 1994 c 416 art 1 s 38;
1995 c 83 s 2,3; 1995 c 121 s 1; 1997 c 231 art 8 s 6; 1999 c 243 art 13 s 11; 2001 c 164 s 1,2;
1Sp2001 c 5 art 7 s 23; 2002 c 351 s 29; 2004 c 241 s 13; 2005 c 136 art 9 s 3; 2005 c 141 s 13;
1Sp2005 c 1 art 2 s 141; 2007 c 57 art 1 s 148

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes