County Land



	County Clerk County Land for Sale (Adobe Reader required; see below) Monthly Land Sales Bid Results

PURCHASE OF COUNTY LAND

Douglas County has many parcels of real estate available for sale. Property is appraised and advertised for sale on a request basis. The following procedure applies to the sale of tax deeded lands and conforms with Section 75.35 of the Wisconsin Statutes:

PROCEDURE

1. A request for appraisal of a piece of land is made to the County Clerk's Office.

2. An Appraisal Application Form for Douglas County Land (Form #9-1) is completed by County Clerk staff. This form is sent to the supervisor of the district in which the property is located for comments. A copy is sent to the City Planner (if located in the City of Superior); Municipal Chair/President (if located in a town or village); County Zoning Department; County Highway Department; County Forestry Department (depending on location); and Superior-Douglas County Development Association.

3. The Land and Development Committee receives a copy of the appraisal form (#9-1)with their meeting agendas. At the next meeting, the committee will decide whether to approve the property for sale and set an appraisal, or to hold the property from sale.

4. After the committee has appraised the property, the County Clerk's Office sends a bid form to the individual requesting said property. Bid forms are also sent to adjacent property owners, if:

a. The adjacent property touches the appraised property, either by being alongside the property or diagonal to it;

b. The adjacent property is separated by an alley, whether physically built or not; or

c. The adjacent property is separated by a platted street, which has not been physically built,

and are available for others in the County Clerk's Office. Property is advertised by publication of a Class 3 notice; sealed bids are accepted and opened at the following Land and Development Committee meeting.

5. The committee reviews the bids, rejects any bids that are less than the appraised value of the property, and may accept the bid most advantageous to the county or reject any or all bids, based on the following criteria:

a. Dollar value;

b. Prospective use of property;

c. Prior ownership;

d. Adjacent property ownership;

e. Taxability of property upon transfer;

f. Build ability under present zoning codes;

g. Access; and

h. Any other criteria the Land and Development Committee wishes to consider to evaluate any bid.

6. Notice of the pending sale is mailed to the clerk of the municipality in which the real estate is located at least three weeks prior to the time of sale.

7. A resolution is presented to the Board approving the sale.

8. A Quit Claim Deed is made out to the successful bidder.

9. Those properties that have been previously advertised for sale may be sold according to the following procedure:

a. Property is advertised for sale by publication of a Class 1 notice;

b. Adjacent property owner(s) (as defined in 4 above) is(are) notified;

c. The Land and Development Committee reviews the bids, may reject any or all bids, or may accept a bid that is less than the appraised value but, cannot accept a bid that is less than the highest bid, unless the committee outlines in the resolution the reasons for accepting a bid that is less than the highest bid. As a general practice, the committee will not consider a bid that is less than 75% of the appraised value. However, the committee reserves the right to accept any bid if the proposed use and/or development of the property is deemed desirable and advantageous to the county;

d. Those properties not sold after the Class 1 bid opening will remain available for purchase by bid, with any bids received referred to the Land and Development Committee, in accordance with the process set out in (c) above;

d. A resolution is presented to the Board approving the sale; and

e. A Quit Claim Deed is made out to the successful bidder.

List of available real estate (requiring advertising and bidding process)

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For further information regarding purchase of real estate call (715) 395-1397 or visit the County Clerk's Office, 1313 Belknap Street, Room 101, Superior, Wisconsin.