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Prior Lake approves comment letter on SMSC fee-to-trust application for former YMCA site
Summary
The Prior Lake council authorized staff to send a comment letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs about the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community's fee-to-trust application for the former YMCA site and adjacent lot, noting easements, fire access, and that the parcels currently remain on city sewer and water.
The Prior Lake City Council on April 14 authorized staff to submit a comment letter to the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding a fee-to-trust application from the SMSC for a former YMCA property and an adjacent vacant lot.
City Manager Jason Wedell summarized issues the draft letter will raise, including existing drainage and trail easements that benefit the city, fire access easements behind the building, and the parcels’ current connections to the city’s sewer and water systems. Wedell said the tribe has agreed it "didn't make sense" to extend its own utilities to those parcels and the properties will remain on city sewer and water.
Wedell told the council the parcels total just over seven acres and that, unusually, the city received property tax revenue for 2025 from the parcels while they were briefly owned by SMSC. Wedell characterized that amount as about $30,638 for the two parcels combined; he said once the parcels move into trust the city will no longer collect those property taxes.
Staff also noted discussions would need to cover long-term utility service, trail alignment along County Road 42, and ongoing access for fire and emergency services. Representatives of the SMSC were present at the meeting, including tribal administrator Bill Nikki and Steve Alrech, and Wedell said staff will continue to coordinate with the tribe to resolve practical infrastructure details prior to the BIA’s final determination.
Council Member Briggs moved and Council Member Braid seconded approval of the letter; the motion passed on a voice vote. Wedell said if the council approves the letter staff will send it to the Bureau of Indian Affairs the following day.
The letter represents the city’s opportunity to inform the BIA about municipal easements, infrastructure connections and any city needs that should be addressed if the parcels are placed into trust.
