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Aitkin County opposes one DNR public‑waters revision, will submit letter and attend hearing
Summary
County engineer told commissioners the county agrees with most proposed DNR revisions to the public waters inventory but opposes a one‑third‑mile segment the DNR designates as protected water (part of Ditch 37). The board authorized a letter of support for the county position and encouraged commissioners to attend the DNR public meeting.
Aitkin County Engineer John Welly told the Board of Commissioners that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources proposed 16 additions and one deletion to the state public‑waters inventory and that county staff agree with 15 of the 16 clarifications. "All of the 16 were pretty much clarifications of where exactly the public drainage ditch ended and where the public water began," Welly said, adding the county has documentation supporting its view on the single disputed segment.
Welly identified the disputed stretch as roughly one‑third of a mile in Township 52‑25, part of Public Drainage Ditch 37. He said the DNR has long included that segment in its public waters inventory while the county treats it as part of Ditch 37. Andrew Carlstrom of Environmental Services told the board most proposed inventory additions are in close proximity to public drainage ditches and characterized most changes as administrative clarifications.
Following discussion, a commissioner moved that the board provide a letter supporting the county's position opposing the single revision. The motion (moved by Commissioner Sample, supported by Commissioner Levitzka) carried on a voice vote. Several commissioners indicated they would attend the DNR public hearing at the library to represent the county's position; staff noted the DNR hearing was scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
The board did not attempt to relitigate the technical record in the meeting; rather, it authorized county staff to deliver the county's written concerns and asked for representation at the public hearing so the board's position would be accurately conveyed. The county's opposition rests on documentation the county says demonstrates the reach of Public Drainage Ditch 37.
