Steele County public meetings in 2024

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource Board met to approve minutes, discuss FEMA-funded drainage projects, and address a culvert issue. They approved final payments and change orders for Drain 6, a state drainage permit for Drain 11, and discussed the Jacobson/Fugleberg culvert lowering request. The board also reviewed a drainage complaint and ongoing construction at Elm River Dam.

• Approved final payment of $321,713.83 for Drain 6 construction (Gladen Construction)
• Approved Change Order No. 2 decreasing Drain 6 contract by $14,749.77
• Approved state drainage permit no. 6329 for Drain 11 Permanent Outlet Project
• Discussed lowering County Road 8A culvert in Section 8 (Fugleberg request)
• Approved $800 educational bonus and $1.17 county raise

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource District board reviewed the status of the Elm River Dam project, approving a $1,028,443.28 payment and specific change orders. The board also re-opened a long-standing drainage complaint and approved two new drain tile permits. Additionally, the board authorized a change order for a FEMA-funded drainage project and reviewed the status of other flood mitigation works.

• Approved Contractor’s Application for Payment No. 6 for the Elm River Dam in the amount of $1,028,443.28
• Approved Change Order No. 4 to reduce the Elm River Dam contract price by $37,586.25
• Approved Change Order No. 5 to increase the Elm River Dam contract price by $13,393.93
• Re-opened the drainage complaint regarding Section 15-145-54 E ½ and stayed the previous decision
• Approved drain tile permits for Randy Eide (NE ¼ of Section 36-146-54) and Dennis Kubischta (SE ¼ of Section 16-145-55)

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource Board approved resolutions for $298,000 and $365,000 in bonds, with the former funding the Drain 11 permanent outlet project. They also approved the 2024 drain assessment rates, denied a drainage complaint, and approved three drain tile permits. The board approved contractor payments for the Elm River Dam project and reviewed FEMA project statuses.

• Approved $298,000 bond resolution for Drain 11 project (3-0)
• Approved $365,000 bond resolution (3-0)
• Approved 2024 drain assessment rates (3-0)
• Denied drainage complaint by Paul Hanson and Dan Motter (3-0)
• Approved drain tile permit for Section 23-146-57
• Approved drain tile permit for Section 20-146-57
• Approved drain tile permit for Section 30-146-57
• Approved contractor payment of $538,017.28 for Elm River Dam

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource District held a special meeting to approve a $289,000 bond for Drain 11 and discuss a drainage complaint. The board voted to award the construction contract to Gladen Construction, Inc. A drainage complaint filed by Paul Hanson and Daniel Motter was noted for review at the next meeting.

• Approved $289,000 bond for Drain 11 with 6.19% interest rate over 15 years
• Awarded construction contract to Gladen Construction, Inc.
• Noted drainage complaint regarding land in Sections 15-145-54 and 14-145-54

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource Board approved a Notice of Award and Notice to Proceed for the Drain 11 Repair Project to Gladen Construction, Inc. for $418,201.60. The board also discussed financing options, including a $140,000 bond and a line of credit, and will finalize details at the August meeting.

• Approved Notice of Award to Gladen Construction, Inc. for $418,201.60
• Approved Notice to Proceed contingent on legal approval
• Total estimated project cost: $1,090,000 (federal $698,265, state $93,100, assessed $298,635)
• Discussed $140,000 bond at 5.79% for 6 years from Bravera
• Authorized purchase of CSP pipe from TruNorth Steel (estimate $66,193.74)

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource District is holding its general meeting on June 6, 2024. The body will approve the agenda and minutes from May 7, 2024. Key discussion items include Drain 11 re-assessment, a 2022 FEMA update, and updates on Drain 2 and the Elm River Dam Joint. The agenda also lists upcoming joint meetings with the Upper Sheyenne and Red River Water Resource Districts.

• Drain 11 Re-Assessment
• Drain 6 Hearing scheduled for 10:00 A.M.
• 2022 FEMA Update
• Elm River Dam Joint update
• Upper Sheyenne Joint WRD meetings on June 19-20, 2024

The Steele County Water Resource Board authorized the engineer to prepare plans and specs and to advertise for bids for the Drain 11 re-assessment, contingent on the vote passing. They also approved a $154,673.82 payment for the Elm River Dam construction and took steps to address beaver dams. The meeting was largely procedural, with several items tabled.

• Approved agenda with additions (State Audit, table Drain Balance Sheet)
• Approved minutes from May 7, 2024 general and Drain 11 hearing meetings
• Authorized resolution for engineer to prepare plans & specs for Drain 11
• Authorized advertising for bids on Drain 11
• Approved motion to contact Blake Kyllo and provide beaver dam removal map
• Approved contractor's payment No. 2 of $154,673.82 for Elm River Dam
• Approved treasurer's report and paid all bills (checks 8767-8772)

Meeting

The board approved the Drain 2 re-assessment list, adding the south half of the SE quarter of Section 25-146-54 at 100% benefit, despite opposition letters from landowners. They also approved the Drain 6 assessment resolutions, FEMA mitigation plans for Drain 1, and the 2025 budget. The meeting included updates on FEMA projects and other routine business.

• Adopted Drain 2 re-assessment list with addition of S ½ SE ¼ Section 25-146-54 (2-1, Ihry and Bergstrom aye, Thykeson nay)
• Approved Drain 6 assessment order and resolutions (unanimous)
• Approved Drain 1 mitigation option #4 (unanimous)
• Approved 2025 budget (unanimous)
• Approved removal of beaver dam in Section 25-146-54 NW ¼ (unanimous)
• Approved treasurer's report and paid bills (unanimous)

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource District held a hearing to re-assess benefits for Drain 2, the first such review since the drain was built. The board discussed updating the assessment area from 7,219.96 to 10,387.66 acres, which would increase yearly maintenance revenue from $28,879.82 to $41,550.62 at $4 per acre. Landowners raised concerns about specific parcels and water flow issues, which the board will review before adopting the final order.

• Drain 2 re-assessment hearing regarding benefit factors
• Proposed expansion of assessment area to 10,387.66 acres
• Maintenance fee set at $4 per acre
• Review of specific land sections including Section 25-146-54 and Section 11-144-54
• Discussion of LIDAR data and road crossing improvements

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource District is holding a public meeting about the Elm River Dam. The agenda lists only the meeting's time and location, with no specific discussion items or decisions detailed.

• Public meeting on Elm River Dam
• Possible quorum of the Water Resource District

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource Board approved the Drain 6 reassessment list, reviewed reassessment maps for Drains 2 and 11, and scheduled public hearings for April and May 2024. They also received FEMA payments totaling $351,364.52 for 2019-2020 projects and voted to pay off a $507,000 bond. The board discussed the Elm River Dam project, now under contract with U.S. SiteWork, Inc. for $5.6 million, and tabled the 2025-2027 Water Development Plan until April.

• Adopted Drain 6 reassessment list after removing parcels in Section 6 of Sherbrooke Township
• Scheduled Drain 2 reassessment hearing for April 2, 2024 at 10:00 A.M.
• Scheduled Drain 11 reassessment hearing for May 7, 2024 at 9:00 A.M.
• Received FEMA payments totaling $351,364.52 for Drain 8 projects (PW 26 and PW 19)
• Approved Elm River Dam project with total cost of $5.6 million; contractor U.S. SiteWork, Inc.

The Steele County Water Resource Board dismissed David Laughlin's complaint against Tor Bergstrom regarding a blocked drain, adopting Moore Engineering's findings that the fill does not obstruct the natural watercourse. The board requested Bergstrom remove debris to maintain water flow and instructed the attorney to prepare a Notice of Decision. A separate complaint by Shannon Bergstrom against David Laughlin remains under investigation.

• Dismissed Laughlin's complaint against Bergstrom, adopting Moore Engineering's findings (2-0, Bergstrom abstained)
• Requested Bergstrom remove machinery, rocks, branches, or debris to keep water flowing
• Instructed Attorney Tostenson to prepare a Notice of Decision
• Set April 2, 2024 deadline for parties to agree on Shannon Bergstrom's complaint, else informal hearing

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource Board held a public hearing on February 6, 2024, to consider reassessing Drain 6. The proposed area would expand from 957.68 acres to 2,657.47 acres, increasing annual maintenance revenue from $3,830.26 to $10,629.88. After discussion, the board took no final action and will review comments before adopting the reassessment order.

• Held Drain 6 reassessment hearing (no vote)
• Delayed adoption of reassessment order pending review of comments

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource Board approved the final FEMA closeout amount of $659,784.97 for the 2019 and 2020 Drain 8 projects, which includes additional eligible interest and bond fees. The board also discussed the 2022 FEMA Drain 6 projects, noting that the CRC requires them to be separated by site, with some sites eligible for mitigation and others not. No action was taken on Drain 6, and the next regular meeting is scheduled for February 6, 2024.

• Approved agenda (unanimous)
• Approved final FEMA closeout amount of $659,784.97 for Drain 8 (3-0)

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource District board met to discuss a drainage dispute on Section 7-146-56 NW ¼ and review updates on FEMA-funded projects. The board approved contracts for legal and engineering services, noting hourly rate increases for both attorneys and engineers. Significant attention was given to the Elm River Dam project, with a total estimated cost of $5.6 million and a contract award anticipated in February.

• Drainage dispute on Section 7-146-56 NW ¼; board suggests filing a complaint if unresolved.
• Elm River Dam project total cost of $5.6 million; apparent low bidder U.S. SiteWork, Inc. at $4,196,274.
• Approval of Moore Engineering 2024 billing schedule with hourly rate increases of $5-$10.
• Approval of attorney Cassie Tostenson's contract with a $15 hourly rate increase.
• Hearing for Drain 6 re-assessment scheduled for February 6, 2024.

The Steele County Water Resource Board approved contracts for legal and engineering services, accepted the treasurer's report, and continued board positions. The Elm River Dam project is moving forward with U.S. SiteWork, Inc. as the apparent low bidder at $4,196,274, with contract award anticipated February 13, 2024. A drainage complaint from David Laughlin was discussed but not resolved, with a determination deferred to the February 6, 2024 meeting.

• Approved agenda with addition of Dave Laughlin (unanimous)
• Approved minutes from Dec 4, 2023 and Dec 12, 2023 meetings (unanimous)
• Continued all board positions for 2023 (unanimous)
• Approved Pledge of Securities and Depositories from Bravera Bank (unanimous)
• Accepted legal services contract with Nilson Brand Law (3-0)
• Accepted Moore Engineering 2024 billing schedule (3-0)
• Approved treasurer's report and paid all bills (3-0)
• Deferred determination on Laughlin drainage complaint to Feb 6, 2024 meeting