If Washington County is to use funds from a $20 million bond referendum to protect open space, that space should be available to the public.

That was the gist of a Tuesday discussion by the Washington County Board, which tabled the possible approval of a purchase agreement for a conservation easement of a 40-acre parcel located along the west side of Inwood Avenue, just south of the Lake Elmo Park Reserve.

The $505,920 proposed to fund the easement over the parcel—referred to as the Armstrong property—would come from the county’s Land and Water Legacy Program, which voters approved in 2006.

Under the proposal, the land would have been available for scout groups only.

Commissioner Bill Pulkrabek, who said he generally supports the plan, said he would rather see the county use the legacy funds for “more active parcels.” He also said he wanted the possibility of a future trail system put into the purchase agreement.

However, county officials did not discuss that possibility with the landowner and the county received a “bargain” price for the deal, said Jane Harper, Land and Water Legacy Program manager.

Board Chair Gary Kriesel echoed many of Pulkrabek’s comments, saying the county should only consider parcels for the program that would be open for general use.

“This is the public’s money,” he said. “The public that paid for it can’t use it.”

Assistant Washington County Attorney George Kuprian said he was unsure if that price would stand with the idea that there may be public use of the site in the future.

Commissioners directed staff to approach the landowner about the possibility of public use; county officials are expected to return to the board with a response in a couple of weeks.

“I would feel more comfortable with that being in (the purchase agreement) now, or at least the option,” Pulkrabek said.

Kriesel agreed, calling the idea to only consider parcels available to the public a “good, defining moment going into the future.”

Under the easement, the landowner would retain ownership of the property, Harper said, but would convert the parcel to its natural state. The easement would also eliminate 18 development rights.