Resolve, Authorizing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Division of Parks and Public Lands To Convey Certain Lands and Enter into Certain Leases with the Federal Government

Preamble. The Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 23 requires that real estate held by the State for conservation or recreation purposes may not be reduced or its uses substantially altered except on the vote of 2/3 of all members elected to each House.

Whereas,  certain real estate authorized for conveyance by this resolve is under the designations described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 598-A; and

Whereas,  the Director of the Division of Parks and Public Lands within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may lease public reserved lands to the Federal Government with the approval of the Legislature in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 1852, subsection 7; and

Whereas,  the Director of the Division of Parks and Public Lands within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may sell lands with the approval of the Legislature in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 6209, subsection 6 and Title 12, section 1814 and section 1851, subsections 1 and 2; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Director of Division of Parks and Public Lands authorized, but not directed, to lease certain land within the Coburn Mountain public reserved lands in Upper Enchanted Township, Somerset County. Resolved: That the Director of the Division of Parks and Public Lands within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may lease, on such terms and conditions as the director may direct, certain rights and lands within the Coburn Mountain public reserved lands in Upper Enchanted Township, Somerset County to the United States Government or the United States Customs and Border Protection. The lease is limited to the rights to maintain, operate, expand, modernize and improve existing public safety communications facilities located within the Coburn Mountain public reserved lands, including access rights necessary to service such facilities; and be it further

Sec. 2. Director of Division of Parks and Public Lands authorized, but not directed, to convey certain land in Dover-Foxcroft, Piscataquis County. Resolved: That the Director of the Division of Parks and Public Lands within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may by quitclaim deed without covenant convey for appraised fair market value and other compensation and on such other terms and conditions as the director may direct 2 parcels of land, one totaling approximately .44 acre and one totaling approximately .018 acre, to an abutter, Dead River Company. The 2 parcels to be conveyed are a portion of the state-owned Newport to Dover-Foxcroft recreational rail trail corridor and associated sidings. The purpose of this conveyance is to resolve a boundary issue; and be it further

Sec. 3. Director of Division of Parks and Public Lands authorized, but not directed, to convey certain land in Dover-Foxcroft, Piscataquis County. Resolved: That the Director of the Division of Parks and Public Lands within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may by quitclaim deed without covenant convey for appraised fair market value and other compensation and on such other terms and conditions as the director may direct a parcel of land totaling approximately .17 acre to an abutter, McKusick Petroleum Company. The parcel to be conveyed is a .17-acre portion of the state-owned Newport to Dover-Foxcroft recreational rail trail corridor and associated sidings. The purpose of this conveyance is to resolve a boundary issue; and be it further

Sec. 4. Director of Division of Parks and Public Lands authorized, but not directed, to convey certain land in Adamstown Township, Oxford County. Resolved: That the Director of the Division of Parks and Public Lands within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may by quitclaim deed without covenant convey for an appraised fair market value that is the higher of 2 appraisals or the highest of more than 2 appraisals and on such other terms and conditions as the director may direct certain lots or parcels of land, with a total of approximately 24 acres, to the West Richardson Pond Public Lot Association.

The parcels to be conveyed are located on a 24-acre lease lot subdivision portion of the Richardson Lake public reserved lands. The 12 lots are on the southwestern shoreline of West Richardson Pond and extend from the Lincoln Plantation and Adamstown Township town line south to Route 16 and are also located between the Richardson Lake public reserved lands access road and the shoreline of West Richardson Pond. The parcels are currently leased to 10 camp lot lessees who are members of the West Richardson Pond Public Lot Association. To ensure that the State retains public access to West Richardson Pond, the director may not convey ownership of Lot 4-W as depicted on the Richardson Pond cottage lots plan developed by Seven Islands Land Company.