COMMISSIONERS VOTE TO SEEK BIDS ON MINERAL RIGHTS ON 1.2305 ACRES

  

In a 3-0 vote this (Tuesday) morning, the Commissioners of Washington County voted to go out for bids on the 1.2305 acres located off of FM 1697.

The acreage has equipment being stored on it currently, as well as 1 acre being used by the Burton Volunteer Fire Department for their station.

The underground mineral rights are what is being sought at this time, as the acreage sits amidst a 600 acre pool.

The County owns the mineral rights, and with their vote, will seek sealed bids to lease said rights.

The bids are to be opened on 26th.

KWHI reached out to County Judge John Brieden to clarify what, exactly, the County would be receiving from the deal. Brieden explained that what the County has on the surface of the land will not change, but rather that the County is seeking to lease out the mineral rights to the area. As the 600 acre pool is pumped, a percentage of the money made is paid out to the owners of the land drawn from, and that the county would make a “small percentage” on the land leased.

Local resident Bill Neinast asked Brieden about the County road that currently runs in the property as well, and whether or not that would result in compensation as well.

Brieden answered that originally it would not have, as the State had shot the concept down, but due to a bill that passed in the last legislation, there was now going to be compensation, but that it would not begin until sometime in 2018.