The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public meeting Tuesday, October 18, in St. Ignace, to discuss land that will be kept or sold in Mackinac County as part of the state’s land consolidation strategy. The meeting will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Village Inn at 250 South State Street. Maps and information about the specific location of land under consideration were not available at press time, but will be posted online two weeks prior to the meeting.

"These public meetings are the perfect opportunity for area residents to have a voice in decisions that could impact local land use," said Mindy Koch, DNR deputy resource director. "Public input is crucial in this process as we determine the best course for these publicly held lands."

The local session is part of a series of meetings around the state to give citizens an opportunity to discuss public land consolidation strategies. In October, meetings will be held in 10 counties, including Mackinac, Houghton, Keweenaw, Alcona, Alpena, Macomb, St. Clair, Calhoun, Mason, and Oceana.

This is part of a multi-phase, ongoing process to consolidate the state's land holdings, by retaining parcels, selling them, or offering them to a local municipality or conservation organization.

Land that state officials believe presents the best opportunity for quality public recreation and natural resource protection will be retained. Land that officials believe does not benefit the state from a recreational, cultural, or natural resources standpoint will be disposed of by sale or conveyance.

Every six months, the DNR reviews 10 counties to determine which parcels will be disposed of and which will be retained. These parcels are outside of the new project boundaries for all state parks, recreation areas, state game and wildlife areas, and state forests adopted by the DNR in 2004. Once the reviews are completed by the DNR field staff, the parcels are classified in one of three ways: retention under state ownership and DNR management, retention and transfer to another unit of government or an alternative conservation organization, or disposal.

People who have disabilities and need accommodations to attend the meeting should contact DNR Wildlife Biologist Scott Whitcomb at (517) 641-4903 a minimum of five working days before the event. Requests made less than five days before this meeting may not be accommodated.

More information on the DNR's land consolidation process can be found at the DNR Web site, at www.michigan.gov/dnr. Maps and parcel information will be posted there two weeks prior to each meeting.