Omnibus lands bill approved

Camp Ripley is a 53,000 acre property used for military training by the Minnesota National Guard. Neighbors may again be offered the opportunity to distance themselves from the military base through a voluntary buffer program.

The Army Compatible Use Buffer project uses federal dollars to purchase perpetual conservation easements on neighboring lands. The House Game, Fish and Forestry Division’s omnibus lands bill, HF696, sponsored by Rep. David Dill (DFL-Crane Lake), would authorize the Department of Natural Resources to buy additional easements along a three-mile area next to the camp.

Willing landowners would be paid 60 percent of appraised land value if they agree not to construct any new structures within the easement, or 70 percent if they also grant public access for outdoor recreation.

Other land sales and acquisitions were also included in the bill, which was approved by the division March 30. It now awaits action by the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division.

One of the largest acquisitions may include 123 acres of lakeshore, wetlands and prehistoric burial mounds that may be incorporated into Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, a National Historic Landmark located on Shakopee and Ogechie lakes.

Surplus land would be sold through public or private sale. Private sales could include:

• a section of a Ham Lake hiking trail that would be sold to the city;

• the White Earth Band of Ojibwe could purchase land and a building in Clearwater County;

• Fillmore County property would be sold to the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center for installation of a geothermal heating system;

• Afton Alps would be able to buy land owned by Washington County;

• the City of St. Louis Park would be allowed to purchase a strip of land adjacent to Minnehaha Creek;

• Wayzata would obtain a corner parcel for use as a road, contingent upon the city’s acquisition of the adjacent gas station;

• tax-forfeited land in Breitung could be sold to a private landowner;

• several tax-forfeited lots could be sold by St. Louis County for private ownership; and

• Murray Township could acquire a road into Lake Shetek State Park as public roadway.

In addition, about 500 feet of property fronting the Clearwater River would be conveyed to the City of Red Lake Falls for use as a public park.

A companion, SF1123, sponsored by Sen. Dan Skogen (DFL-Hewitt), awaits action by the Senate Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Committee.