County working on Mazomanie land purchase

Mike Miller  —  10/29/2008 5:32 pm

Dane County is in the process of buying approximately 1,000 acres of land in the town of Mazomanie, about two miles north of the village and roughly from County Y to the Wisconsin River, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk said Wednesday.

Two committees of the Dane County Board already approved the purchase and approval by the full board -- necessary for the purchase -- is expected, said Falk aide Joshua Wescott.

Falk announced the agreement on the purchase Wednesday, speaking from the property, which includes a 28-acre island on the Wisconsin River. The land abuts the Walking Iron County Park on the south and the state-owned Lower Wisconsin Riverway area on the north. Falk said recreational trails could tie the state- and county-owned acreage in the future. While most of the land is west of County Y, one hunk of the property is east of the road.

The land is currently owned by Dr. Shakeab Alshabkhoun, of Hinsdale, Ill., who along with A&A Farms, an Illinois partnership, was ordered in 2001 to pay $507,850 for violating a consent decree by constructing a drainage ditch through wetlands on the property without a permit. The federal fine came after the owners violated the decree by failing to correct the situation in a timely manner, then U.S. Attorney Peggy Lautenschlager said.

The violation came after the doctor already agreed to pay a $225,000 fine and repair damage caused to wetlands.

The deal between the county and the doctor calls for the sale of the land for $4.3 million or $4,100 per acre, which Falk said reflects the appraised value of the property.

The land includes 2,500 feet of riverfront property, Falk noted, as well as rolling bluffs, woodlands, and wetlands where it is common to see dozens of cranes.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase access to the Wisconsin River for Dane County citizens to enjoy forever and comes at a time when people are staying closer to home to enjoy time with friends and family," Falk said. "This purchase offers our citizens endless opportunities to enjoy the quality of life that keeps more people moving to our county than anywhere else.

Alshabkhoun said his family is "very pleased that this special property will be available for future generations of the public to enjoy," and said it would provide camping, hiking and hunting for outdoors people.

The county hopes to work with the state Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Heritage Land Trust to seek reimbursement for the land costs through the DNR Stewardship program funds for wetland restoration, Falk said.

Mike Miller  —  10/29/2008 5:32 pm