ISLE OF WIGHT—Isle of Wight County is seeking bids to lease 532 acres off Broadwater Road to a hunt club.

The Isle of Wight Hunt Club has been leasing the land for many years, said Mark Furlo, the county’s director of Parks and Recreation.

The county a few years ago purchased the property known as the Southern Tract of the Blackwater River. The Isle of Wight Hunt Club was leasing it from the previous owner, which Furlo believes was International Paper. The county was leasing the land for no rent.

The Board of Supervisors decided last fall that they wanted to be paid for the lease, he said.

“Whenever a fee is involved, it must go out on bid,” Furlo said. “Assuming we get qualified proposals, the contract should be awarded at the June Board of Supervisors’ meeting.”

Nancy Linkous, procurement manager for the county, said she has not received any bids, but doesn’t expect to until the 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, deadline. She has received inquiries.

“Along with a price per acre, we are also factoring the percentage of a club’s membership that are Isle of Wight residents,” Furlo said.

For information, Furlo can be reached at 357-6703 or mfurlo@isleofwightus.net, and Linkous at 357-2216, or nlinkous@isleofwightus.net.