Crow Wing County Ditch #13 Public Hearing 10/27/15

Description of CWC Ditch #13  Construction complete 1907  Total cost $5,  Original number of parcels in benefitting area = 80  Current number of parcels in benefitting area = 730+  Public parcels and State, County and Township level  Limited maintenance and improvements made over the years through donations and partnerships.

CWC Ditch #13 Challenges  No funding to match the authority of County granted by state statute  Following the law to properly generate the needed revenue (assessment) is unpopular  Many in benefitted area are unaware and perceive no connection to CWC Ditch #13  Several entities involved that have resources but no authority  Application of dated public drainage laws may not address this situation well  Not everyone agrees there is a problem  People are taking matters into their own hands - Trespassing

CWC Ditch #13 Timeline  Resident survey mailed. 6/11/15  Public informational meeting Lake Edward Township. 7/9/15  Resident survey complete. 8/10/15  Recommendations provided to the Crow Wing County Board at the Committee of the Whole. 9/15/15  Public hearing required by MN Statute 103E. (Today 10/27/15)  County Board decision to assesses benefitted property owners. (10/27/15 or 11/10/15)  Develop a new drainage system management policy. (TBD)  Begin Ditch 13 maintenance activities. (Late spring 2016)

CWC Ditch #13 Final Survey Results 8/10/15

“ditch is flowing water it is working” “Ditch is fine leave it alone” “We live on North Long Lake where the ditch comes into the lake. The ditch is flowing and that is good enough……” “maintain the ditch in its current condition” “Maintain the ditch at current conditions and just remove obstructions in the ditch. Also maintain a channel betwen The lake and the weir for proper flow.” “Nothing. ditch 13 is flowing” “Remove only beaver by resident trappers. no ditching” “Leave it as it is” “Leave it alone, it is flowing just fine.” “The lake is within 6" of its height as when we bought this property in 1992; the ditch is just fine as it is.” “Do nothing because it is currently working fine.Don't fix what's not broken” “Other” comments supporting minimal effort

Meeting and Survey Conclusions  Most survey respondents perceive little benefit or connection to Ditch #13.  Most survey respondents and meeting attendees prefer a simple solution without conducting an engineering study.  Many survey respondents and meeting attendees are concerned about lowering the level of Lake Edward.  Some survey respondents and meeting attendees were vocal about unknown effects to North Long Lake.  Very few comments were made about the actual amount of the proposed assessment.  Approximately 25% of property owners responded to the survey; a similar amount attended the public info meeting 7/9/15.

Staff Recommendation  At this time do not require an in-depth engineering study of Ditch #13.  Approve an annual Ditch #13 assessment for the sum of $14, to create an ongoing ditch maintenance fund.  Approve a one-time Ditch #13 assessment for the sum of $3,000 to reimburse CWC for administrative costs incurred in  Direct the County Engineer to prepare a Crow Wing County Drainage System Management Policy.  Direct the County Engineer to begin investigate the feasibility of applying the maintenance fund concept to all CWC public drainage systems.  Set the minimum ditch maintenance fund assessment at $1.00

2016 Assessment Timeline  In order to be included on the following year’s taxes, the County Auditor must certify all assessments by November 30 each year.  In order to give the Auditor enough time to create the certification package and enter it onto the tax system, the board must approve the assessment well in advance of the November 30 th deadline.  General timeline for a possible Ditch 13 maintenance fund assessment: Committee of the Whole 9/15/15 Board Resolution to set public hearing 9/22/15 Notices to affected landowners regarding public hearing 10/12/15 Public hearing Today 10/27/15 Board approval of ditch maintenance assessment 10/27/15 or 11/10/15 County Auditor certification and tax system entry 11/30/15

Recommended Annual Ditch #13 Maintenance Fund Assessment

 Based on $14, assessment  Public property cost share 37.4% $5, Range = $0.08 to $2, Minimum = $1.00  Private property cost share = 62.6% $8, Range = $0.007 to $ Minimum = $1.00 CWC Ditch #13 Cost Share Summary

$1.00 Minimum Assessment  Based on $14, assessment  Number of parcels with a proposed assessment under $  Total dollar amount of all proposed assessment under $1.00 $65.75  Total increase by setting $1.00 minimum assessment. $ %

New public drainage laws  CWC Impact of new public drainage buffer strip law unknown.  Assessments previously discussed in this document do not take into account any financial obligation created by the this new law.  May lead to further challenges.  Establishing maintenance funds for each public drainage system will help mitigate future challenges.

Questions or Comments?