County looks at library funding, land sales

During their regular meeting on June 2, members of the Waseca County Board of Commissioners heard from county administrator Michael Johnson regarding various steps in changing the LeSueur-Waseca Library system from having formerly been listed as its own tax entity to now being funded and overseen through leadership from the two counties.

 

Waseca County property owners have formerly seen the library system as a separate entry on their property tax statements. However, it was recognized during 2025 that, although the library system is meant to be supported by property taxes, it is not meant to have as much independent authority toward levying those taxes as had formerly been taken.

 

Along with that recognition came the understanding that, going forward, levy amounts meant to support the library system will be under the county’s umbrella–but according to Johnson’s summary, the change is likely to lead to either only minimal change to tax amounts or possibly a slight decrease, since some tasks formerly paid for under the library’s auspices will now be taken on by county offices: bookkeeping and payroll are examples.

 

Numerous meetings and administrative steps are underway during the summer to complete the transition, with procedural decisions requiring extensive communication and discussion between Waseca and LeSueur counties.

 

In separate business, director of county facilities management Brian Tomford updated board members regarding the county’s efforts to sell two pieces of land, one known as “Glynn Park” and the other as “Manthy Park.” Despite the names, neither property is included in park planning or future development because both are “landlocked,” that is, they are surrounded on all sides by privately owned land, with no public access except by permission of those land owners.

 

Under state statute regarding the sale of such parcels, the county can offer the land only to owners of contiguous property. The first and second times the land is offered, the state also requires the county to specify “minimum bids” based on the parcel’s assessed value. The county has already made two attempts to sell the parcels, and has so far not received a bid for either of them.

 

The property labeled “Glynn Park” is a rectangular, tree-covered parcel about 20 acres in size located in Alden township roughly four miles south of State Highway 14. Four parcels adjoin it, meaning only four parties are eligible to purchase it.

 

Property labeled “Manthy Park” is about 20 acres in size and has an irregular, roughly triangular shape. It spans the LeSueur River in St. Mary township slightly north of 320th Avenue and East of 50th Street, about 3 miles southeast of Janesville. The Manthy property comes with the stipulation that it must be maintained in its wooded state in accordance with accepted forestry practices. This parcel, too, is adjoined by four privately owned properties. One of the landowners is the state Department of Natural Resources.

 

Tomford asked commissioners for permission to offer the parcels for a third time, at a rate of roughly 50 percent of the land’s assessed value: In the case of Glynn Park, $30,000. In the case of Manthy Park, $25,000.

 

Commissioners granted permission for this third round of bidding, but at least one suggested that, since the properties do not entail any expense for the county, there is a point at which the county might most logically maintain ownership, rather than continuing a process which might lead eligible bidders to continue waiting, hoping the requested minimum bid will continue to decrease.

 

During the June 2 meeting, board members also heard from Power On Midwest, an initiative involving numerous energy delivery companies including Great River Energy, ITC Midwest and Xcel Energy.  The suppliers are cooperating toward the construction of a large-scale powerline not expected to be completed until 2034. At this time, information is being gathered about the path the line would follow from eastern South Dakota to other lines already in use north of Rochester.

 

Power On representatives explained that, of the several route variations being examined, none actually cross land within Waseca County. However, since research and communication regarding the right of way extends to one mile on both sides of any of the proposed routes, land on the county’s southernmost edge does fall within the expected notification area.

 

When it is constructed, Power On anticipates the power line will use large-scale steel support structures with a “footprint” up to 50 feet wide at ground level, and spanning up to 145 feet of width at the top, about 175 feet above the ground. Due to their large-scale size, they can be spaced between 1,200 and 1,400 feet apart–in other words, needing fewer than five to cover a mile of distance.

 

Power On spokespersons also emphasized that their group is performing research and public outreach, and will then make a recommendation regarding what it finds to be the most practical path. The final decision, however, will fall to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, which is scheduled to issue its decision sometime in 2028.