At the November 5 County Board meeting, Brandon Schad, Minnesota DNR, notified the board of a property donation to be added to the DNR Beaver Creek Wildlife Management Area.
The donation of 52.81 acres is from Pheasants Forever, having received an appropriation from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage (Legacy) Council funding for the land purchase. The board does not have to approve the donation. However, it is required that the board be notified. Pheasants Forever will donate the parcel to Minnesota DNR.
The annual payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) will be about $555.00. Schad explained the parcel is adjacent to the Beaver Creek WMA and is not cropland. The area is all in natural cover. The current owner can not crop the parcel because of wetland regulations.
Schad said he met with the Beaver Township board. They expressed no concerns and were supportive of the transfer of these acres to the state.
Some discussion followed on how the DNR determines which land they want to acquire. Schad said there has to be a good resource value that we want to protect. Often it is land owners coming to us. The land has to fit our criteria. Some land is not ideal and we do tell a lot of people no. Commissioner Mitch Lentz asked how many acres are they going to acquire in Fillmore County? Schad said we don’t have an acreage target. There is a priority to build on existing management areas.
Other business in brief
The 2020/2021 Biennial Plan between Fillmore County and Minnesota Department of Human Services was approved. Kevin Olson, Social Services manager, said this is the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) plan, which helps with education and work planning. It is totally funded with federal and state dollars.
The resignation of Greg Melartin, jailer, was approved, effective October 19, with thanks for his 3 1/2 years of service.
•County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman updated the board on technology projects. All computers are being imaged/prepped, the GIS contract is signed, the mapping software contract has not been received yet, and the website contract is completed. Vickerman said she will continue to bring updates as the process is ongoing.
•Commissioner Randy Dahl commented on the recent District 9 meeting. He said he asked during the meeting if anyone thinks state and federal government provides enough funding for roads and bridges. Dahl said local funds raised from the Local Option Sales Tax and the Wheelage Tax provide 22% of the funding for our roads and bridges.
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