Clay County commissioners on Dec. 30 voted to decline the opportunity to repurchase four parcels formerly held for the Fargo–Moorhead area flood diversion project, saying the county does not want the land to hold and noting a staff-policy discrepancy raised by one commissioner.

Darren briefed the board on the background: a 2019 Minnesota land-acquisition joint powers agreement created the Morehead–Clay County Joint Powers Authority (MCCJPA) to coordinate property acquisition for the diversion. The Metro Flood Diversion Authority (MFDA) reviews its inventory and can declare properties excess; member entities have 30 days to indicate an intent to purchase. The four parcels in question (OINs 1665, 1792, 1793 and 1802) total about 22.37 acres and the packet listed a combined price of $111,000, based on an appraised value of $5,000 per acre for Zone 1 land.

Commissioner Munger said he believes the parcels are excess and should be returned to the public, but he objected to parts of the staff memo and said the recommendation presented to the MCCJPA conflicted with the county’s excess-lands policy. "I am of the opinion and continue to be that this is excess lands," Munger said, while also saying he would vote against any motion that adopted the full staff recommendation because of the procedural concerns.

Commissioner Ebinger moved that Clay County decline to exercise its right to purchase the described properties; another commissioner seconded and the board voted to decline. The board directed staff to notify Jason Benson and the diversion authority of the vote.

The board did not take action to alter the diversion authority’s declaration of excess; the recorded action was a decision not to purchase the parcels during the 30-day member-entity window.

Next steps: staff will notify the diversion authority of the board’s decision and follow the MCCJPA policy process as needed if future buy-back options arise.