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Land acquisitions reach about 63% as eminent‑domain trials continue for diversion footprint
Summary
Land-management staff reported about 63% of required parcels acquired, the first trial completed last month, multiple settlements reached outside court and seven pending settlement offers; staff circulated the Property Rights Acquisition and Mitigation (PRAM) document to state agencies and the Army Corps for concurrence.
Land‑management staff told the board on Sept. 25 that property acquisition for the diversion footprint has reached about 63% (rounded), with continued negotiation, ongoing eminent‑domain activity and settlements reached outside court after the authority’s first trial last month. The board was told there are seven outstanding settlement offers still under negotiation.
Justin, the authority’s land management lead, said flowage easements shown in the board map represented the parcels already acquired; orange parcels on the map were properties currently in eminent‑domain proceedings and blue parcels were properties not yet subject to imminent‑domain filings and still under negotiation. He said the authority completed its first trial last month, and that several additional settlements were negotiated following the trial. “We continue to negotiate and start settling with these landowners,” Justin said.
Key actions and documents: staff said they successfully closed three parcels in the upstream mitigation area (UMA) this month and that six excess parcels are moving through the authority’s disposal policy. Staff circulated the Property Rights Acquisition and Mitigation (PRAM) document to state agencies and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and will work with those agencies to obtain concurrence on the document. Land agents continue to provide relocation services and rent payments for impacted properties on both the Minnesota and North Dakota sides.
Justin said the UMA subfootprint is showing positive progress and that owner‑group differences and parcel counts will continue to change as individual settlements are finalized. The authority also reported it was in an eminent‑domain trial the week of the meeting. Board members were given the opportunity to ask questions and staff stood ready to provide updates as settlements close.
The board received the report for transparency and tracking; no formal land‑acquisition vote was recorded at the meeting.
