Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Committee hears Leech Lake land transfer bill; tribal leaders and DNR support transfer of 13.59 acres
Loading...
Summary
House File 1587 would transfer roughly 13.59 acres of state‑owned school trust land near the Leech Lake Band's community center in Bena to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; the band, the Office of School Trust Lands and DNR testified in support and the committee laid the bill over.
Representative Ben Stevenson presented House File 1587 to transfer approximately 13.59 acres of state school trust land adjacent to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe community center in Bena to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.
Steve White, the band’s District 2 representative, told the committee the parcel sits across the community center parking lot and about 300 feet from Lake Winnibigoshish, and that the band intends to improve public lake access and make the site a public beach and extension of the community center. "This would become the only public beach on Lake Winnebagoshish in the Bena area," White said.
Secretary‑Treasurer Lenny Feinday said the land is currently inaccessible and only generates a small lease; he urged that the transfer would enable community recreation and benefit both tribal members and the public. Feinday also described the long history of school trust lands inside the reservation boundary and said the Leech Lake Band holds about 45,753 acres in tribal trust today compared with 142,274 acres of school trust lands within the reservation boundary.
Aaron Vanderland, director of School Trust Lands, testified the transfer is in the school trust’s interest and would generate revenue for the permanent school fund while meeting natural resource and conservation management principles. DNR Assistant Commissioner Bob Meyer described the standard process when encroachments are identified on trust lands — survey, appraisal, lease development and, for trust lands, condemnation and public sale unless the legislature directs otherwise — and said that in this case DNR supports the negotiated transfer and has an existing lease in place with the band.
Representative Heintzeman asked whether encroaching parties typically pay for such transfers; Assistant Commissioner Meyer said private parties normally would pay unless a bill is brought to the legislature to direct otherwise. Representative Schultz requested continued consultation with Cass County; band leaders said they have a standing MOU with the county and have consulted with local elected officials and the school district, which conveyed support.
The sponsor renewed his motion that House File 1587 be laid over for possible inclusion; the committee laid the bill over without objection.
Outlook: The transfer requires statutory action by the legislature; the committee record shows DNR, Office of School Trust Lands and the Leech Lake Band favor the measure and the bill will be considered further in finance negotiations.
