Trail acquisition won’t make taxes go as high as thought

Chippewa County Forest administrator Matt Hansen has new numbers on tax impacts to the school districts of Cornell, sharing those findings Nov. 25. Hansen was originally led to believe that if a 2,400acre property is acquired for expanding the Ice Age Trail, taxes would go up by $44, per $100,000 of assessed value, but the amount is much lower. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

A proposed plan to obtain more land for the Ice Age Trail was voted down for support by the Cornell City Council, but not everyone agreed with that measure. So, Matt Hansen, Chippewa County Forest administrator, spoke again to a large crowd of people at the Cornell School Board meeting Nov. 25.

“I’ve been getting a lot of pushback, but I believe this is in the best interest of the town and the county,” said Hansen.

The Ice Age National plan, that took a whole decade to write, is one that the park service wrote for Chippewa County. The Ice Age Trail stretches everywhere there is public land ownership, so easements are not needed.

A corridor was created that goes from the Chippewa County line to Cornell, to the west, then turns into a road route, which is traversed by those hiking the Ice Age Trail.

“You’ll notice these people, walking with backpacks,” said Hansen. “We’re trying to get them off that road network and get them better trail experiences.”

To do so, Hansen is looking at purchasing property south of Cornell, a 2,400 acre parcel that is owned by Ted Strzok. Strzok built the large property out of seven different ownerships and has his residence there.

“He doesn’t want to leave here,” said Hansen. “But, he realizes the benefit this would create for his community.”

Strzok is willing to sell the entirety of the property for the right price, but doesn’t wish to break it up, requiring Hansen to obtain funding somehow to purchase the acreage. Included on the parcel, are 200 acres of agricultural land that would be left as is, as well as four to eight small lakes.

Hansen will try to receive state funding through a stewardship program, in tandem with federal funding to purchase the property.

“There’s really little local money going out to purchase it,” he said. “There are tax implications.”

Hansen was told at the county level that by removing such a large piece of land from the tax roll, that those in the Cornell School District would see a $44 increase in annual taxes, per $100,000 of assessed value. However, after hearing about the project, Cornell School District superintendent Paul Schley realized the numbers were wrong.

He helped Hansen attempt to understand the state’s funding formula for school districts, which reduces the tax implication to just $5 the first year after the property is taken off the tax roll, and $2 the following year.

“If I don’t have local support, the project wilts on the vine and dies,” said Hansen.

Hansen also understands that not everyone uses the trail, but feels in a rural area that struggles to field sports teams, this could be another avenue to get kids involved in recreational activities, as well as being an economic boon.

With the new numbers on the tax impacts, Hansen was encouraged to reapproach the city. He also wants to have a public meeting in January, to have Ice Age Trail Alliance members in to discuss the project and why it’s unique.

“I don’t see how this is not a win for the town or county,” said Hansen. “This brings people into your community. It makes for a tourist destination.”