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Council open to Xcel Energy easement over City Hall property; attorney review to follow
Summary
Xcel Energy has asked Minnetrista City for an easement to straighten a transmission line across the rear of City Hall and police property. The council indicated tentative willingness to continue talks, asked staff to have the city attorney review documents and to confirm appraisal/fee practices before any agreement.
Minnetrista City Council members heard an early request from Xcel Energy to obtain an easement across the rear of city hall and police property to straighten a transmission line.
City staff described a map in the meeting packet showing a “weird jog” in the line and said Xcel has proposed a straight-line reroute across city land. Staff said Xcel offered to pay a market-rate value in the range of $5,000 to $6,000 for the easement, and that alternatives include a license agreement or leaving the line in its current location.
Council and staff discussed environmental permitting and potential wetlands impacts. Staff said that if wetlands are affected, Xcel would need to proceed through the wetland-review process (described in the packet as a “WACCAP process”), and might need to purchase mitigation credits or replace wetlands, depending on impacts. Council members asked whether towers or other structures would be placed on city property; staff said Xcel had not finalized design and could not yet confirm installation details.
Council members pressed the compensation question and noted that attorney-review and appraisal costs could approach the amount Xcel offered; staff replied that Xcel has been told it must pay the city’s legal costs and stated Xcel could choose to seek an appraisal. Staff also reported that Xcel had said it would decline to proceed if the city insisted on substantially more than the offered amount.
After discussion the council expressed a willingness to continue discussions and asked staff to proceed with the standard next steps: request Xcel’s formal easement documents, have the city attorney review the terms, confirm whether Xcel will pay appraisal and attorney fees, and report back to council before any final decision. No final easement was executed at the meeting.
The easement discussion was informational only; staff described possible paths and asked whether the council wanted to pursue negotiations. Council members indicated tentative acceptance of continued negotiation and staff follow-up.
