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Land-use staff outline plan to remediate unpermitted work at Bilsby Park in Cannon Falls
Summary
Goodhue County Land Use staff told the board it will finalize access agreements, design a remediation project for unpermitted excavation and retaining walls at Bilsby Park and expects to return with bid recommendations by June.
Land Use Management staff told the Goodhue County Board they have observed unpermitted excavation and large retaining walls on private property that also affected county-owned land at Bilsby Park, Scout Ridgeway in Cannon Falls, and outlined steps to resolve the situation.
The staff presentation said a stop-work order was issued after county staff observed substantial excavation in August 2022, and subsequent compliance attempts were unsuccessful. Staff said access to the site is limited by private easements and an existing lease on county lakeshore property, but that an access agreement with adjoining owners has been reached to allow construction equipment to reach the site.
"In August 2022, county staff observed unpermitted work... the work that was being done included substantial excavation and dirt work on both private property and county land, and the installation of several large retaining walls," Land Use staff said. The staff member said project design will be completed, put to bid and brought back to the board with an award recommendation, likely by June.
Staff also discussed options for recouping county costs after remediation, including presenting property owners with a bill or pursuing an assessment. Commissioners asked staff to document the history and notify Stanton Township landowners so the township understands how the county reached this point and the planned next steps.
Next steps: Staff to finalize an agreement with the Burns property owner for access, complete design, put the project to bid, and return with a bid-award recommendation to the board in June; staff will also consider options to recover costs from property owners.
