Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
MERCER, Wis. — While the future of the Saxon Harbor campground remains uncertain, the Iron County forestry committee is recommending a land swap if the decision is to made to proceed with its construction.
The committee voted Tuesday to send the proposed land exchange to the full county board for approval.
“At the full county board meeting … we’ll discuss the new campground proposal first. And if the board decides we’re not going to move forward with the new campground, we’ll just table this,” Iron County Forestry and Parks Administrator Eric Peterson said. “This is contingent on us building a new campground. If we’re not going to build a new campground, we don’t need to make this trade.”
Peterson said the proposed exchange would allow the county to acquire land south of its existing property where the campground is proposed that is currently owned by Neil Gilbertson. In exchange for that land, Iron County would give up a strip of property in the wooded area behind the old campground near Gilbertson’s house.
While the design for the campground is continuing to be refined to keep costs down, the most recent versions called for excavating a hill across County A from the Harbor Lights bar. The hill continues to the south, according to Peterson, and the county would either have to build a retaining wall or shrink the campground footprint if the property isn’t acquired.
While the total amount of land being exchanged is still being determined, Peterson said it was roughly expected to be one to 1.5 acres. He said Gilbertson is working with the county regarding the amount being exchanged.
“The agreement I have with Neil is that it will be acre for acre,” Peterson said. “So if we need 1.45 acres to build our campground, we’ll trade him 1.45 acres.”
It would be unlikely the county could use the land it is giving away, according to Peterson.
In other action, the committee:
—Approved a resolution seeking to remove a 300-by-300-foot piece of land in the town of Mercer from the Iron County forest. The removal of the land near Fisher Lake is needed so a broadband tower can be constructed as part of the county’s efforts to expand broadband internet in southern Iron County.
—Agreed to move forward with exploring the purchase of an easement on a piece of property in the town of Oma that ATV Trail 17 runs through. The land was recently purchased by the North Carolina-based Forestland Group, which Peterson said doesn’t allow all-terrain vehicle use on its properties. Snowmobiling isn’t an issue, according to Peterson.
—Approved a request to use a portion of the Uller Trail system for a fat tire bike race planned for Feb. 9.
—Approved extensions for two timber sales on Iron County Forest land that still need to be locked.
—Passed a resolution authorizing Peterson to submit grants on the county’s behalf.
—Approved the 2019 work plan.