Integrys to sell Vilas County land

As part of its continuing Real Estate Asset Management strategy to divest itself of property it doesn't need, Integrys Energy Group, parent company of Wisconsin Public Service Corp., will look to divest about 350 of about 410 acres it owns on Lake Content, just north of St. Germain.

The company had discussions with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources about the agency purchasing the property, but the WDNR decided that such a purchase didn’t fit its goals.

“Ideally, by using conservation easements or other means, we’d be able to arrange for most of the property to transfer to an organization that could maintain its current characteristics,” said Steve Agnoli, Wisconsin Public Service regional customer service manager. “We’d maybe keep a handful of eight- to 10-acre lakeside lots for sale. We think that would be a good mix of preserving most of the land while helping the local economy. Of course, we’d like to work with the Town of St. Germain and Vilas County to determine their interests, as well.”

Integrys Energy expects to sell the land this year. Agnoli said the property is adjacent to about 60 acres and a lodge on the north side of Lake Content that will be retained. Wisconsin Public Service purchased the Lake Content property in 1953 and it has never been used for utility purposes or included in customer rates. Years later, ownership was transferred to the parent company, then called WPS Resources Corp., and now called Integrys Energy Group.

Agnoli said that any conservation organization or other party interested in the property should contact Patti Van Den Elzen of the company’s real estate department in Green Bay, (920) 433-1373, plvandenelzen@integrysgroup.com.