Stearns County Ditch 28 (CD28) Status Updates
11/17/2020
At the County Board of Commissioners meeting held November 17, 2020, staff presented a summary report of all the feedback received as of Oct. 23, 2020 regarding potential projects on CD28. The Commissioners, acting as the drainage authority for CD28 passed a unanimous motion to accept the public feedback report and based on property owner feedback, engineers inspection report, and estimated costs, directs staff to monitor and inspect the impact of the removal of the fish trap in 2021 and present an updated inspection report to the drainage authority. The motion also approved tax assessment for 2021 in the amount of $20,067.94 to pay for projects performed in 2020.
You can view the summary report of the feedback from the public survey using the link below.
Please click the link below for details of special property tax assessment in the amount of $20,067.94:
11/13/2020
Below is information regarding CD28 information that will be presented to the Board of Commissioners on November 17, 2020 scheduled for 9:40am. The presentation of the feedback received from the recent CD28 project survey will be presented to the Stearns County Commissioners. You can view the summary report of the feedback from the public survey using the link below.
The link below contains the meeting agenda and once the Commissioners meeting has started, this same page will contain a link to open the video of the meeting.
http://stearnscountymn.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx
11/2/2020
November 17, 2020 Board of Commissioners Update
On Nov. 17, 2020, staff will be presenting the feedback received by letter, phone, and surveys regarding the potential for projects on the CD28 drainage system. The meeting will be virtual and people cannot attend in person unless there is a change in county policy before the meeting. The public is invited to watch online. For meeting agendas and to watch, click the link below. There will be a link to watch the meeting at 9:00am the day of the meeting.
http://stearnscountymn.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx
10/23/2020
Fish trap update
On October 23, 2020, Stearns County was notified that the fish trap on the outlet of Two Rivers Lake was removed. The Stearns County Board of Commissioners acting as the CD28 Drainage Authority had declared the fish trap a legal obstruction to the ditch and ordered its removal on August 11, 2020.
CD28 Status Update - 8/17/2020
Based on the recent engineer report performed on CD28 from lake outlet to ditch end at the Co Rd 17 culverts, mapping was developed to help demonstrate where water is predicted to go based on certain scenarios. The engineering vendor hired by Stearns County takes all the data available and uses a computer model to produce the findings. Using the GIS interactive map found at the link below, you can turn on and off different map layers and scenarios to zoom in and see the computer modeled results. The disclaimer on this data is that it is a predictive model and not based on actual events.
CD28 Interactive Floodplain Map
Insturctions for CD28 Interactive Floodplain Map
CD28 Status Update - 8/10/2020
At the August 11, 2020 Stearns County Board of Commissioners meeting, staff will be presenting the engineers report which examined the impact of potential repair activities. The Board Agenda and Engineers Report can be found at the links below. The CD28 item is scheduled for 10:05am.
CD28 Status Update - 7/27/2020
Due to trees slumping into the ditch, a contractor was hired to assist in the removal of some large willow trees. The blockage was quite significant and once the trees were removed, flow improved.
View photos of the before and after
CD28 Status Update - 3/12/2020
With spring approaching, Stearns County Emergency Management has been providing updates on the expected spring melt. The National Weather Service is advising that lowland flooding is expected around lakes and marshy areas because the ground remains saturated from the rain last fall and early winter. Fortunately, the shallow frost depth has allowed water to soak in and flow throughout the winter.
In preparation for ice out conditions, Stearns County has been onsite to CD28 to evaluate for potential ice dams and debris in the ditch. The covered bridge in Holdingford has vegetation caught on the pillars and the culverts on Co Rd 17 continue to be inspected for sediment. The Stearns County Highway Department has already been contacted to assist with moving sediment out of one of the four culverts. Please don’t hesitate to contact Stearns County if you see obstructions in the ditch.
We also expect to start getting drafts of the engineering results the vendor has been working on throughout the winter. The goal is to evaluate the condition of the ditch and get a recommendation on obstructions. In particular, the fish trap on the lake outlet is specifically being looked at as there are signs of it being a potential obstruction.
CD28 Status Update - 12/19/2019
At the December 17, 2019 Board of Commissioners meeting, the Commissioners acting as the CD28 Drainage Authority approved an engineering project to analyze the impacts of sediment accumulation, and the fish trap on the ditch system. The engineering will examine the impact based on current conditions and if a potential repair were completed to restore the ditch to its as constructed 1906 condition.
The engineer will deliver a computer model of the upper half of the ditch used to determine the before and after impacts of any potential repair, an evaluation of the effect that the existing sediment and fish trap has on the system, and recommended next steps.
The project approved will cost $8,900 in engineer vendor cost plus any staff time required to complete the project.
CD28 Status Update - 11/25/2019
At the November 19, 2019 Board of Commissioners meeting, the Commissioners acting as the CD28 Drainage Authority approved special assessments for CD28 to pay for the reestablishment of records project.
At the May 8, 2018 Board of Commissioners meeting, the County Board authorized staff to follow MS 103E.101 to reestablish and correct the drainage system record of CD28. The costs for project are as follows:
Engineering Vendor - $13,342.25
Rinke Noonan Attorneys - $2,908.00
Stearns County staff time collecting survey record of the entire ditch - $2,749.75
The total cost being assessed to the benefited property owners of CD28 is $19,000. Each benefited property’s share of the special assessment can be found by opening the document 2019 Estimated CD28 Special Assessment. All dollar amounts are subject to change pending final tax calculation. This assessment will be for 1 year at 0% interest. Property owners will have the option to prepay the amount owed or the amount will be added to the 2020 property tax bill.
A letter will be sent through the mail to each property owner in late November showing their amount due as well as additional information about how to make payment.
CD28 Status Update - 10/17/2019
At the September 24, 2019 Board of Commissioners meeting, the Engineers Report for Reestablishment was adopted by the Stearns County Drainage Authority. Based on feedback from the public hearing on Aug. 24, 2019, edits were made to the report to reflect that information.
Adopted CD28 Engineer's Report for Reestablishment
CD28 Status Update - 9/20/2019
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
In the matter of: Reestablishment of Stearns County Ditch 28 Drainage System Records
Based on public comment during them August 20, 2019 Public Hearing for reestablishment of records, there were revisions to the engineers report as well as a summary document responding to some of the comments. These documents can be found in the links section of this page.
The Board of Commissioners of Stearns County, sitting as the drainage authority for Stearns County Ditch 28 will continue the public hearing to review these revisions and vote whether to approve or deny the findings and order reestablishing drainage system records. The hearing shall be held on Tuesday September 24, 2019 at 9:20am, or as close to that time as possible, at the Stearns County Administration Center, Board Room, 705 Courthouse Square, Saint Cloud, MN 56303.
Copies of the Engineer’s Report of Findings and other relevant documents are available for inspection at the Stearns County Auditor’s Office, Land Management Division. For more information, visit https://gis.co.stearns.mn.us/Ditches/main.html or phone: 320-656-3694.
CD28 Status Update - 7/22/2019
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
In the matter of: Reestablishment of Stearns County Ditch 28 Drainage System Records
The Board of Commissioners of Stearns County, sitting as the drainage authority for Stearns County Ditch 28, shall hold a public hearing on the reestablishment of records defining the alignment; cross-section; profile; hydraulic structure locations, materials, dimensions, and elevations; or right of way of the drainage system as originally constructed and subsequently improved in accordance with Minn. Stat. Ch. 103E.101, subd. 4a. The hearing shall be held at 9:00am or as close to that time as possible August 20, 2019 at the Stearns County Administration Center, Board Room, 705 Courthouse Square, Saint Cloud, MN 56303. Check back the week before for updates to time of public hearing.
All interested parties may appear and be heard. Copies of the Engineer’s Report of Findings are available for inspection at the Stearns County Auditor’s Office, Land Management Division. For more information, visit https://gis.co.stearns.mn.us/Ditches/main.html or phone: 320-656-3694.
CD28 Status Update - 6/13/2019
The CD28 Reestablishment of Records Engineer's Draft Report is complete. The report will remain a draft form until the Stearns County Drainage Authority approves the report. The next step will be to hold a public hearing at a Stearns County Board of Commissioners meeting. All property owners will be notified of the date and time of the meeting so they have an opportunity to attend and speak.
The re-establishment process will legally set the ditch elevation profile and ditch right of way. This report does not address any work in the ditch. More information about reviewing potential repair opportunities will be coming later this summer.
CD28 Reestablishment of Records Engineer's Draft Report
Please check back for project updates.
CD28 Status Update - 11/21/2018
The process of surveying CD28 is underway. Survey crew members will be traveling the ditch via boat, taking measurements. These measurements will be used in the ditch profile.
Please check back for project updates.
CD28 Status Update - 5/23/2018
On 5/8/2018 the Stearns County Board of Commissioners, acting as the Stearns County CD28 Drainage Commission, approved the Re-establishment of Records process. It was determined that the re-establishment of records was needed due to incomplete CD28 ditch system records. The re-establishment process will develop the following:
1. Ditch Alignment
2. Ditch Profile
3. Ditch Right of Way
4. Cross Section
This will provide the baseline needed to complete any possible repair. The re-establishment process is to begin in the fall of 2018.
Please check back for project updates.