Exchanging land within county forest; reserving rights of way

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of ORS 275.330 or 275.340, the governing body of a county may provide for the exchange of land within a designated county forest for other land when in the judgment of the governing body of the county, supported as provided in subsection (3) of this section, such exchange is for equal value and is in the best interest of the county. Such exchanges shall be authorized under this section only when the land obtained by the county in exchange is immediately incorporated into the designated county forest. (2) Before making an order for exchange of property, the governing body of the county shall hold a hearing at which objections to the proposed exchange of real property may be heard. Notice of the hearing shall be given by publication weekly for two consecutive weeks, or two publications in all, in a newspaper circulated generally within the county, such notice to describe particularly the property affected. The date of hearing shall be not less than five days following the last date of publication of notice. (3) The exchange authorized in subsection (1) of this section shall be made by order of the governing body of the county and supported by reports of the value of the properties being exchanged submitted by: (a) The county assessor; and (b) The county forester or other qualified agent selected by the governing body. (4) The exchanges authorized in this section may include any timber on the land involved if the value of such timber is established as provided in subsection (3) of this section. (5) The governing body of the county shall reserve all rights of way in all lands exchanged as provided in subsection (1) of this section to permit proper administration and management of county lands and forests retained or received in exchange by the county.