Committee approves sale of three tax-deed parcels; village of Star Prairie awarded two

The St. Croix County Administration Committee reviewed three tax-deed properties during its July 14 meeting and approved sale motions on each parcel.

Heather presented the packets and ordinance authority (chapter 3) for the three parcels. For parcel 182101130100 in the village of Star Prairie, the county received two bids: the village at the $200 minimum and a private bidder, Robert Casmik of West Alice, at $225. Heather noted that the ordinance allows the committee to accept the bid "most advantageous to the county" but requires rejecting bids below appraised value on first attempt. Supervisor Counter described the lot as landlocked and adjacent to a city park with no public access except by water; the attorney (Amos) said there is no statutory definition of "advantageous," and recommended considering municipal relationships and tax implications. The committee moved to accept the lesser of the two bids; the motion carried unanimously.

A second Star Prairie parcel (182102720100) had a minimum bid of $2,700, set with input from the village assessor. The village bid the minimum citing landlocked, unbuildable characteristics and municipal ordinance concerns about private camping; the committee moved to accept the village bid, which passed unanimously.

A third listing (parcel 04210972010 in the Town of Warren) had been placed in ongoing sale after no bids on initial publication; one bid of $225 from Robert Casmar was received. Supervisors debated whether outside buyers purchasing small, nonbuildable "spite strips" is desirable, but accepted the bid by vote. All three actions were approved by unanimous voice vote.

The committee's actions will be reflected in the county's tax-deed disposition records and follow the processes in the county ordinance and Wis. Stat. ch. 75.