Wright County to use watershed funds for two ditch projects; public hearing set for Judicial Ditch No. 1

Wright County commissioners voted April 21 to move forward with ditch projects in the Lock Lake area after staff reported a $100,000 award from the Mississippi River St. Cloud Watershed entity and coordination with the Wright Soil and Water Office.

A county presenter told the board that bids for County Ditch 20 and County Ditch 24 came in a little over $110,000. The Wright Soil and Water Office offered to cover the additional cost so the projects will proceed without assessments to benefited landowners, the presenter said. The board voted unanimously to approve moving the contracts through the Wright Soil and Water Office and county process.

The board also recorded receipt of a petition for partial abandonment for Judicial Ditch Number One under Minnesota Statute 103E.806 and set a public hearing for the redetermination of benefits and abandonment proceeding at 10:30 a.m. on June 16 in the county boardroom. County staff warned that abandonment petitions historically draw only the applicant and recommended a morning time; the board approved the hearing time by voice vote.

The ditch work is intended to provide planning and design information to local road authorities and landowners; staff said the project will produce a study and no assessments will be charged to landowners for this contract stage. The board did not discuss financing beyond the committed watershed award and the Soil and Water Office covering the overage.

Next steps include contracting with the selected contractor and publishing notice for the June 16 public hearing as required under state ditch law.