Blue Earth County approves viewers' reports for multiple ditch redeterminations, schedules follow-up for two parcels

Blue Earth County commissioners on June 24 adopted viewers' reports and draft findings that update benefit and damages listings for several county ditch systems, while scheduling follow-up for two disputed parcels.

Scott Goodwin, representing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, introduced a separate land transfer earlier in the meeting; the bulk of the session was devoted to redeterminations. Craig Austin, Blue Earth County drainage staff, opened the redetermination hearings for County Ditches 53, 74, 88 and 93, noting that landowner informational meetings were held March 10 and hearing notices mailed May 27 and published in the Mankato Free Press.

Viewer Mark Baron's presentation to the board described the methodology used to calculate benefits — acres in the watershed, soil type, location rate, tile presence and system efficiency — and said County Ditch 53 (established 1917) has 25-year benefits estimated at $1,541,000. Baron's packet also included an ‘‘estimated assessment’’ line used for notice purposes, which he said was shown at $5,000 on the materials distributed to landowners.

For County Ditch 74 (established 1928), Baron's report listed roughly 1,351 watershed acres, about 36,880 feet of county tile and 25-year benefits of $2,280,000. Two landowners raised parcel-specific questions during public comment about whether certain parcels were tiled out of the system; viewers and staff explained watershed boundaries are drawn by engineering firms (ISG) and that tiled-out acres are reduced, not removed, in the benefit calculation. The board approved the Ditch 74 redetermination "except those two specific parcels" and scheduled a follow-up public hearing to decide those parcels on July 8.

Mark Barnes, an appointed viewer, described County Ditch 88 (established 1962) as including about 5,500 acres, roughly 3,900 feet of county tile and approximately 4.1 miles of open ditch. Barnes said the 1-rod grass-strip easement along open ditch shoulders is being valued at $8,000 per acre for typical cropland acres; on Ditch 88 he reported 15.8 cropland acres subject to the easement ($126,000) and total 25-year benefits of $6,300,000. The board approved the viewers' report for Ditch 88 by voice vote.

On County Ditch 93 (established 1976), Barnes reported approximately 3,260 watershed acres, 1,300 feet of tile and 4.1 miles of open ditch with easement damages computed at $8,000 per cropland acre (15.3 acres → $122,000) and total 25-year benefits of $6,400,000. A Decoria Township resident, Douglas Putman, asked the board to protect a last loop of the ditch (Wintership Creek) that he described as wildlife habitat and floodplain; the chair clarified the current hearing concerned only redetermination of benefits and that repair or cleaning work would be handled later with its own public process. The board adopted the Ditch 93 findings and orders.

Ryan Henneker presented a petition for repair under Minnesota Statute 103E.715 for County Ditch 51, seeking repair and replacement of subsurface tile and rerouting of Branch 2 under County Road 32. Attorney review recommended the appointment of an engineer to produce a repair report; the drainage authority approved draft findings to appoint an engineer and set a final hearing after receipt of the report.

Henneker also recommended awarding branch-13 repair work on County Ditch 56 to Stevens Bobcat and Backhaul Service LLC, which submitted the low quote of $39,051; the board approved the contract award.

Next steps: the board scheduled a targeted hearing for the two Ditch 74 parcels on July 8 and will set a repair hearing for Ditch 51 after the engineer's report is filed.