Ramsey County Water Board holds public hearing on Newbury Township snag-and-clear petition; board approves resolution of necessity

The Ramsey County Water Board opened a posted public hearing on a snag-and-clear petition for a natural drainage channel in Newbury Township and, after presentations and public comment, approved a resolution of necessity to proceed.

KLJ staff presented maps and analysis showing the benefited area, which staff derived using publicly available LIDAR (International Water Institute) and the county parcel viewer. KLJ noted that parts of the project area intersect U.S. Fish and Wildlife easements; those easement acres would be assessed at 50 percent. KLJ and county staff said the outlined blue area on the project map drains toward a small slough and ultimately into the lot and coulee referenced in the petition.

Public comment included landowners and residents who described local flooding and road damage. Shane Isers, who identified himself in public comment, said the goal is "to get this water off of multiple spots in the township" and to return water to its historic flow paths. Another landowner asked for a more detailed overview of start and end points; staff pointed to the handout map showing the line work and described the route from the northwest corner of the outlined area to the southeast, ending near Section 34.

Cost, assessment and financing: Staff said the project estimate is $288,460.22 and that Ramsey County’s local share of that amount is $55,009.23. The board discussed assessment mechanics: acres inside U.S. Fish and Wildlife easements are assessed at 50 percent, and the board noted its legal limit to take out loans for assessment financing is five years; staff said the normal process would be a four-year payment schedule with a balloon payment or a subsequent loan at year five if the assessment is not fully paid.

Board and commission process: KLJ requested that the water board take an initial vote to establish the project before the county commission votes. A water board member moved and seconded the resolution of necessity; the board conducted a roll call with three water board members present and the motion carried. The hearing closed and the county commission resumed its agenda.

Why it matters: The project would create a formal assessment area to pay for recurring channel maintenance and to fund the immediate cleanout work. Residents who testified said channel maintenance could reduce overtopping and road damage in wet seasons, while others warned that moving or accelerating flow can shift impacts downstream.

Next steps: The water board approved the resolution of necessity and will forward the project to the county commission for the statutory approval required of the commission (a two-thirds vote by statute was described during the hearing). Staff said they will prepare the assessment and loan paperwork and will return with formal documents and maps for commission action.