Pine County moves Soo Line corridor under Regional Rail Authority, approves one crossing easement and directs short-term permits

Pine County commissioners voted Jan. 7 to quitclaim the county-owned Soo Line rail corridor to the Pine County Regional Rail Authority and then convened the rail authority to handle related trail crossing business. During the same session the authority approved a permanent easement for a property owner and agreed to allow the land commissioner to issue short-term (up to one year) crossing permits while staff develops a longer-term approach.

Why it matters: the move consolidates ownership and permit authority for the corridor under the county’s rail authority, clarifies which entity issues crossing permits, and resolves a specific property-access request that had required a survey and an appraisal.

Transfer of ownership and legal context County staff and administrators told the board the county currently holds title to the Soo Line corridor while the Pine County Regional Rail Authority holds title to a separate Highway 23 corridor. County staff recommended transferring the Soo Line deed to the rail authority so that a single entity and ordinance would cover permitted uses.

County Administrator Dave Minkie and County Attorney Reese Frederiksen (referenced by staff) explained the proposal and said the county attorney reviewed the deed and recommended the transfer. The board voted to transfer the Soo Line corridor to the rail authority to align ownership with the authority’s regulatory ordinance (Ordinance 2018-55), which authorizes the rail authority to issue special permits for crossings.

Rail authority business: appointments and crossing permits After adjourning the county board portion, commissioners convened as the Pine County Regional Rail Authority and confirmed officer appointments consistent with the county-board membership. The authority discussed a batch of 14 preexisting crossings that staff had identified where users or property owners have historically crossed the corridor. Land Commissioner Kelly Beck proposed issuing long-term crossing permits, noting a 20-year permit had been proposed earlier in staff work but that alternatives exist.

Rather than immediately issue long-term, multi-decade permits the authority agreed to rely on the land commissioner’s existing authority to issue short-term permits (up to one year) while staff and the board consider whether permanent easements are a better long-term solution. Several commissioners and staff said easements would be preferable where a permanent access right is desired, though easements require appraisal and recording.

Sandstrom easement approved One property owner, the Sandstroms, had already obtained a survey and requested a permanent easement across the Soo Line to secure legal access from a parcel south of the trail to County Road 159. The rail authority approved the Sandstrom easement; staff told the board the county’s appraisal indicated a value of $500 for that easement interest based on the appraisal used. The authority recorded a roll-call vote approving the easement.

Next steps and implications Staff will prepare documents to record the deed transfer to the rail authority, process the Sandstrom easement paperwork and proceed with short-term crossing permits under the land commissioner’s authority while staff develops criteria for longer-term easements or permanent permits. County staff suggested surveying or GPS-defined locations for crossing points so that permits and easements are legally clear.

The board and staff said the change is intended to eliminate confusion about which entity issues permits and to centralize management of the corridor under the rail authority, which is composed of the same elected members as the county board but functions under the authority ordinance.

Votes and approvals at the meeting - Transfer of old Soo Line corridor deed to Pine County Regional Rail Authority — outcome: approved (roll call recorded affirmative by all commissioners present). - Rail Authority officer appointments (county board members serve in authority roles) — outcome: approved (roll call recorded affirmative). - Sandstrom permanent easement across the Soo Line (applicant-funded survey; appraised value $500) — outcome: approved (roll call recorded affirmative). - Direction to rely on Land Commissioner for short-term crossing permits while staff develops long-term policy — outcome: direction agreed (no separate roll-call ordinance; staff to implement under existing ordinance authority).