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ISD 622 approves easement for NSP/Xcel at Tartan High after adding transaction-cost reimbursement
Summary
The ISD 622 board approved an easement for Northern States Power Company (NSP/Xcel) to install a metering station on former Oakdale Elementary land adjacent to Tartan High, approving the company’s $3,000 offer after amending the motion to require reimbursement of the district's transaction costs (approximately $1,800).
The North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale (ISD 622) school board on July 20 approved an easement allowing Northern States Power Company (NSP, also referred to as Xcel Energy in the discussion) to install gas pipeline metering equipment on a 40-by-60-foot parcel at the southwest corner of the Tartan High School site. The board approved the easement after adopting an amendment to the payment terms to include reimbursement of the district’s transaction costs.
District staff presented the agreement and said the easement area is on the former Oakdale Elementary site along Glenbrook Avenue North and that the district’s legal counsel had reviewed and approved the agreement. Staff said NSP would screen the meter station and that an independent appraisal had valued the easement at $3,000. The staff recommendation was to approve the offer letter and execute the easement documents.
During discussion several board members questioned whether $3,000 was a fair, indefinite price for the parcel and whether NSP/Xcel should reimburse district costs. One board member said, according to the record, that "$3,000 seems pretty cheap... to indefinitely get any property" and asked whether NSP would at least pay transaction costs. Staff conceded the district had incurred appraisal and legal review fees (reported on the record as roughly $1,800 so far) and said the board could counter the offer, reject it, or amend the motion before the vote. Staff also said NSP wanted to install equipment in August, arguing some urgency.
A board member proposed an amendment to approve the easement at the $3,000 price but to require NSP to cover the district's transaction costs; another board member seconded. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote on the amendment and recorded ayes and nays; the amendment passed on the roll call. The board then voted on the main motion as amended, and the clerk announced that the amended motion passed on the record.
The board’s action authorizes the chair and clerk to execute the easement documents with the amended terms; staff will follow up on finalizing the agreement and documenting reimbursement of transaction costs.
