08-05-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes-August 5, 2002 2474 14, FLOOD PROPERTY ACQUISITION, Contract with Lake Aqassiz Re!lional Council Keith Berndt, County Engineer, was present to report on flood acquisitions and recommend approval of a contract with the Lake Agassiz Regional Development Corporation to administer the greenway property acquisition program in the same way the previous buyout program has been administered. Mr. Berndt said the greenway initiative is a new concept in Cass County, however, he learned at the National Association of Counties Convention in New Orleans last month that other counties around the nation have been establishing greenways for quite some time. Cass County was fortunate to acquire FEMA (Federal Ernergency Management Agency) funds in the amount of $2 million to purchase greenway property, he said. The objective is to establish a contiguous linear greenway along the Red and Wild Rice Rivers south of Fargo to prevent development in locations that have a history of flooding and to preserve open land and green space. A memorandurn was received from Mr. Berndt dated August 1, 2002, regarding acquisition of emergency levy/greenway properties near Forest River, as a supplement to today's agenda topic on flood property acquisition. After appraising and surveying two properties located where the County's 2001 emergency levy was constructed, Mr. Berndt negotiated an agreement for acquisition. He said the two properties are adjacent to the Red River and are consistent with the greenway plan, regardless of the future of the ernergency levy. Total cost of the purchase is $174,672.00, with the county's share being $55,762.00, based on 15% of the non-levy right of way property and 100% of the levy right of way. He said the board will need to make a decision on the future of the emergency levy at a later date. MOTION, passed Mr. Wagner moved and Mrs. Schneider seconded to authorize acquisition of the properties described in Cass County Greenway Plat No.1, as presented by the County Engineer. Discussion: Mr. Berndt responded to a question from Mrs. Sorum about the names of the two landowners and a purchase price. At the call for the question and on roll call vote, the motion carried with four members voting "Aye" and Mrs. Sorum opposing. Irv Rustad, Lake Agassiz Regional Development Corporation, was also present and said the proposed contract with his agency is similar to the existing contract for earlier property acquisitions. The project will take about one year to complete, and he said the contract price is about $800 per transaction. The contract was referred to the State's Attorney for his review and approval. Mr. Rustad said there are two remaining properties in Forest River, which the county was proposing to purchase. The Kane property was valued at $6,900.00, with a 15% county share of about $1,035.00. On the Lester property, the county's appraisal was $7,000.00, which was not satisfactory to the landowner, however, the landowner has not sought a second appraisal. MOTION, passed Mr. Meyer moved and Mrs. Schneider seconded to authorize the Lake Agassiz Regional Development Corporation to purchase the Kane property as discussed today, with the money being paid from the county's contingency line item. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously.