With the value of wetland credits increasing, Koochiching County commissioners will consider options from staff on who and for what uses the county’s long-sought wetland credits at Duininck Lake should be provided.
The county board in committee Tuesday met with Environmental Services Director Dale Olson, Highway Engineer Doug Grindall and Soil and Water Conservation District Technician Justin Berg to discuss under what circumstances the county’s 12.8 acres of wetland credits should be used. The staff, along with Land Commissioner Dennis Hummitzsch, were asked to recommend options for use to the board.
Among the considerations in creating a policy for wetland credit use from the Duininck Lake bank are whether the county should retain all or a portion of the credits for use in county projects, including road projects that disturb wetlands and require mitigation with credits; whether other governments, including the cities in the county, should have access to credits for their projects, such as the proposed new construction of the Rainy Lake Medical Center hospital campus; or whether private individuals may use the wetland credits for their projects.
At one point in the discussion Tuesday, the board wondered whether economic development that provides benefit to the taxpayers should be included as a criteria for access to the credits.
“The taxpayers own the wetlands,” said Board Chairman Wade Pavleck.
Credits could be sold for $20,000 to $25,000 per credit, noted Grindall. With the county’s budget being cut in recent years because of actions by the state, he suggested selling the credits and using the money to help fund county services.
Administrative Director Teresa Jaksa noted that because the bank is on tax-forfeited county-managed land, the county would only receive 60 percent of a purchase price, with the other amount going to the school district in which the bank is located.
Commissioner Brian McBride agreed that the credits represent a monetary value to the county and said he would not favor giving the credits away.
Jaksa said providing credits for projects by private individuals would chip away at the number of credits available for county projects and others that may better represent economic development for the community.
Olson noted that an additional six credits, which are under the U.S. Army Corps’ jurisdiction, may not be used in Koochiching County and could be sold to other government entities or private individuals outside the county.
Meanwhile, Olson noted that county staff have been attempting to secure the credits for about 14 years and, noted Pavleck, at a cost to taxpayers of $150,000. The costs came because of actions needed on the lake to meet state and federal requirements for wetland credits.
