S.F. No. 468 allows the Hennepin County Soil and Water Conservation District to be discontinued, upon approval of the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources.
Section 1, subdivision 1, allows the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners (“Board”) to petition the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (“BWSR”) to discontinue the Hennepin Soil and Water Conservation District (“District”). All duties and authorities of the District would be transferred to the Board. BWSR has 60 days to review the petition and must make its determination at its first regular meeting after the 60-day review period.
Subdivision 2 requires BWSR to review the petition to determine whether specified goals can be achieved by discontinuing the District and transferring the duties and authorities to the Board. If so, BWSR shall order the discontinuance of the District. No referendum is required.
Subdivision 3 provides that if the District is discontinued, the Board will have the duties and authorities of a soil and water conservation district. The Board may assign these duties to the appropriate county department. All contracts with the District remain in effect and Hennepin County is substituted for the District as a party to the contracts.
Section 4 requires the Hennepin Conservation District Board of Supervisors to transfer the District’s assets to the Board.
Subdivision 5 provides that Hennepin County has the eligibility of a soil and water conservation district for state grants.
Subdivision 6 allows the Board to petition BWSR to reestablish the District. Alternatively, BWSR may reestablish the District if it determines specified goals are not being achieved. Reestablishment by BWSR does not require a referendum.
This act is effective the day after local approval.
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