An archeological survey will be underway on a tax-forfeited, 40.2-acre tract in Section 22 of Rockwood Township.
“It’s part of our normal routine review on timber appraisals,” explained Hubbard County Land Commissioner Mark Lohmeier. “We check with the Office of the State Archaeologist and the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office for potential cultural or historical sites that may be on any of our timber sales. This one came back.”
The state requested that the county conduct a Phase 1 archaeological survey on the site.
The Hubbard County Board approved the low quote of $4,566 from Duluth Archeology Center, LLC for the field survey at their Nov. 3 meeting.
Lohmeier said the surveyor will walk through the timber parcel and do periodic shovel tests. If something of value is discovered, curation may be the next phase, he added.
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“If they feel that we can conduct the timber sale without damaging any of the site, if there’s anything out there, they may let us go ahead. Otherwise, we may have to do a full protection area of wherever that site might be,” Lohmeier said.
County commissioner Ted VanKempen asked if this had ever happened before.
“This is the first time we’ve received this since I’ve been here,” Lohmeier replied.
“Any idea what’s there?” asked county commissioner Tom Krueger.
“Nope. They won’t tell me either,” Lohmeier said. “I asked.”
“I was wondering if it was a burial ground or something,” Krueger speculated.
Since the timber tract was already sold, VanKempen asked how this will affect the logger.
Lohmeier said it was a summer sale, so hopefully the survey will be done prior to that.
In other business, the county board did as follows:
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Approved the low quote of $6.16 per yard from Brown Excavating, Inc. of Glenwood, Minn. for concrete crushing at the south demolition landfill.
Approved the low quote of $10,985 from Emcon, Inc. of Nevis for solid waste office modifications.
