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Drainage authority approves County Ditch 39 repair payment and schedules public hearing on County Ditch 56, Branch 3
Summary
The Blue Earth County drainage authority approved a $24,089.15 repair contract for County Ditch 39 (Judson Township) and set a public hearing on a petition involving County Ditch 56, Branch 3 (affecting Garden City Township) for March 25, 2025 at 9 a.m.
At the March 11 drainage authority meeting, Blue Earth County commissioners approved a repair report payment for County Ditch 39 and scheduled a public hearing on a petition to reroute portions of County Ditch 56, Branch 3.
Public Works staff told the authority the County Ditch 39 repair is located in Judson Township, north of Lake Crystal, and recommended approval of a $24,089.15 contract with Sellers Construction to replace a small branch line. Staff noted the ditch assessment account was currently in the red but the county is actively collecting for the deficit; the authority approved the repair payment on a voice vote.
On County Ditch 56, Branch 3, staff summarized a petition received Nov. 25, 2024 from Minnesota Valley Lands LLC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requesting impoundment, reroute and diversion of portions of the ditch within portions of Garden City Township (sections 9, 16 and 17). County Attorney and the drainage authority’s legal counsel reviewed the petition and found it adequate for proceedings; because one petitioner is a federal agency no bond was required. Charles J. Bridal of ISG was appointed engineer on Dec. 17, 2024 to produce an engineer’s advisory report. The drainage authority set a public hearing on the petition and the engineer’s advisory report for March 25, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in the county board meeting room.
Staff said the County Ditch 56 watershed is about 9,400 acres and affects Garden City and Lincoln Townships. The board’s motion to set the hearing carried on a voice vote.
The drainage authority did not take a final decision on the County Ditch 56 petition at the March 11 meeting; the public hearing will allow evidence and comment before any ruling.
