The Memorial Day storm that whipped through Hubbard County caused an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 acres in damage to timber stands.

County Land Commissioner Mark “Chip” Lohmeier said Natural Resources Department staff scouted the damage, via an airplane, between Park Rapids and the Lake George area. He spoke to county commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting.

Lohmeier said these county parcels will be added to upcoming timber auctions.

“We’ll be bringing appraisals to you for approval. We’re trying to get that stuff cleaned up as quick as possible and focusing our entire effort on setting up those storm-damaged areas,” he said, adding, “Some of these are 100 percent on the ground, snapped off.”

Some are in lower areas that will require frozen-ground operations, he said.

The board tabled Dennis Diedrich’s request to transfer a recreational cabin lease in Lake George Township to Mike Mead.

Lohmeier said the non-residential building and patio exceed the current 100-square-foot size limitation, but was grandfathered in.

If approved, Lohmeier requested that it be contingent upon Diedrich removing a gate blocking access to the county tax-forfeited land, which is open to the public.

County commissioners tabled action until they could review the county’s current policy about lease transfers. A policy dating from 2012 was posted on the county’s website, but the board updated it in 2019.

“That’s a really nice cabin there. They’d have to turn it down, wouldn’t they?” asked county commissioner Tom Krueger.

“Yep, or assign it to someone already listed in the lease,” county commissioner David De La Hunt replied.

Lohmeier said there are currently about 50 recreational cabin leases on Hubbard County land.

In other business, the board did as follows: