WORTHINGTON - Nobles County commissioners on Tuesday granted a resolution to incorporate a summary of watercourses into the Nobles County Comprehensive Local Water Management Plan.
The action was taken after discussion at both a work session and previous board meeting in which some commissioners questioned whether the summary would provide the state with a list of unbuffered waters that could lead to an expanded buffer mandate.
Nobles County Environmental Services Manager Mark Koster said the water courses included in the summary are perennial and seasonal streams, as depicted on topography and soil survey maps. Approving the resolution, he said, would lead to additional dollars coming to the Nobles Soil and Water Conservation District to assist landowners who may want to incorporate buffers on the land in the future.
Commissioner Justin Ahlers asked again Tuesday if the county is making a new buffer map by providing the state with the summary.
“We don’t really want to give anybody up north any ideas,” he said.
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SWCD Administrator John Shea said the buffer law is tied to Department of Natural Resources waters, and he doesn’t see that changing.
“Our No. 1 priority is surface water,” Shea said. “This just says we’re willing to work with landowners to protect surface water.”
Shea said the summary will become a moot point by 2020 anyway, as that is when the county anticipates the replacement of its water plan with the One Watershed, One Plan model for the Missouri River Watershed.
In other action, the board:
- Approved five-year property tax abatements through the Nobles Home Initiative for Al Drost to construct a new home in the Six Fairway View plat along Crailsheim Road, Worthington; and for Kenny and Jana Willers to construct a new home at 1781 Donovan Dr., Worthington.
- Approved payment of $53,280.75 to Brennan Construction for work completed on the Prairie Justice Center garage addition.
- Approved payment of $40,114.11 to Salonek Concrete & Construction for work on the Adrian garage addition.
- Approved a change order in the amount of $1,563 for the Adrian Shop addition.
- Approved a lease agreement with Edina Realty - Renee Baerenwald and Staci Murphy - for office space in the Armory Business Center.
- Authorized an amendment to an agreement with Falls Architecture Studio. Due to increased scope and complexity of work by FAS on projects, they are requesting an additional $4,700 in fees.
- Authorized the reissuance of a lost $25,000 check to the Nobles County Fair Association.
