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County seeks clarification from state on Fuglberg drainage permit and potential culvert work
Summary
Steele County staff and commissioners asked the state Department of Water Resources for clarification on a permit application (surface drain application 6640), potential culvert lowering and responsibilities for downstream impacts; county staff will draft formal comments for the commission's signature.
Steele County commissioners and staff raised questions Feb. 4 about a surface drainage permit application (identified in the meeting as application 6640) for the Fuglberg drainage project and asked the Department of Water Resources for clarification on the project's scope and potential effects on County Road 8.
Staff member Mike told commissioners the state is considering whether the drainage proposal is of "statewide or interdistrict significance," which would affect whether the state retains permitting authority. He told the commission the application contains conflicting attachments: one appears to request lowering a culvert through County Road 8 by two feet, while another lists leaving the culvert at its existing elevation. The county asked the state to clarify which approach the applicant intends.
County staff recommended two scenarios for comment: if the culvert remains at existing elevation, excavation to the north could increase standing water near the road and threaten roadway integrity; if the culvert is lowered two feet, the county asked who would pay to lower the culvert, who is responsible for permitting any culvert work and what downstream excavation or mitigation would occur to avoid water impoundment.
Commissioners directed Mike to draft a letter to the Department of Water Resources summarizing these concerns and seeking clarifying information; staff said the draft letter would be sent to Jenna for placement on county letterhead and the commission chair would sign once commissioners had reviewed it.
Ending: County staff will prepare and circulate formal comments to the state; the Department of Water Resources' final determination on significance will determine whether the county or state will make final permitting decisions for the application.
