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The property is currently in the hands of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, which acquired the land through a purchase by a private buyer at $2,200 per acre.

GTRLC land protection representative Todd Vigland said, when addressing the county board of commissioners at their March 8 meeting, he hoped the land conservancy would be able to release the land to the county at the same price.

District No. 8 Commissioner Bernard Blackmore said the county lands and forestry committee was trying to work out the puzzle pieces and acquire the land through the DNR grant.

"If we get $99,000 from the DNR, we would still be a couple of hundred thousand short" to acquire the property, he said. Committee members had recommended the sale of a parcel on Bachelder Road for not less than $200,000, by first giving the three people that have given the county quotes another chance to bid and if none express interest to contact the local board of realtors to have them find a real estate agent to sell the parcel.

"We would hope the county moves ahead on this matter," Forest Home Township Supervisor Terry Smith said. The property is in that township and would be able to used for light recreational pursuits, such as a walking trail and other amenities.

Ò"f the county is not going to go for the grant (April 1 deadline) than the township needs to know within the next week,Ó"Smith said. Ò"The DNR is already familiar with the project," county coordinator/planner Peter Garwood said, adding he thought it might rate high on their list no matter whether the application is submitted in April or August.

Vigland also said the county stands a good chance of getting the grant, whether the application is submitted now or in August.

"We need a plan on our commitment," District No. 2 Commissioner Eugene Dawson said. "This is a prime piece of property and we stand to buy it at a good price."

Garwood said the county had until mid-2009 in order to determine where their match funds would come from, recommending they want until August grant cycle before submitting an application.

"If we do it now we are going to have to put a stop to a lot of stuff we are doing right not and it will also take a majority of our time,Ó"Garwood said.

"The application was already pretty well done,Ó"Dawson said. "All we would have to do is bring it up-to-snuff."

Ò"I don't personally feel like it would be that easy," Garwood said. "August does present a very compelling argument (for the application submittal)," Vigland said.

Ò"I applaud our leadership in going forward on this," Dawson said, adding he senses that the public wants the land to remain within the public ownership.

Blackmore suggested the county move forward with the purchase of the property, adding the determination of where the county funds would be derived from could come at a later date.

Ò" think we can go ahead with the purchase and wait for the special (March 29th) meeting, that way we can give the finance committee some time to play with the figures," District No. 7 Commissioner and Vice Chairman Laura Stanek said. She was acting as chairman due to the vacation of District No. 4 Commissioner and board chairman Jack White. Ò" think we ought to postpone this for 30 days,Ó"District No. 3 Commissioner Larry Bargy said. By doing so it would give White and District No. 6 Commissioner Michael Crawford a chance to return. Commissioners ultimately decided to deal with the matter at a later date, either the March 29 meeting, when both members are expected to be back, or during their regular April session.

In other business, commissioners scheduled a special meeting for 9 a.m. March 29 to discuss the countyÕs technology plans. Stanek said computer consultant Fred Trimble will present the technology implementation plan and answer pertinent questions.

"It is very important to attend in order to be able to make the decisions that we are going to be asking of you in the future," she said.