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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A proposal to build an outlet to lower Hobart Lake took a step forward on June 28th after the Barnes County Water Resource District Board unanimously approved of the plan during a special meeting.
Board chairman Jerry Hieb said the outlet would lower the water level to an elevation of 1414 feet. He said the outlet would help a local farmer, a homeowner and a nearby elevator who have dealt with high water issues for several summers.
Most of the affected landowners have signed easements to allow the project to move forward. As of July 10th, Keith Colville had not signed. He wants the water board to give him the specific meets and bounds of this project which affects about 300 feet of his property.
Barnes County Water Resource District attorney Sean Fredricks said the board approved of starting eminent domain proceedings against Colville. He said during the regular board meeting on July 10th that the quick take process has started. But Fredricks and Hieb said the negotiation process with Colville continues and they maybe close to an agreement.
The following is audio from the July 10th board meeting, in it you’ll hear board attorney Sean Fredricks, landowner Keith Colville, board president Jerry Hieb and Mike Opat of Moore Engineering.
Landowner Barry Borg tells KOVC radio news that, “he continues to pay taxes on nearly 100 acres of land now under water.” He told us earlier that, “I no longer supports the project as it is now because they have left me out of the process and that the current plan would leave 2.5 feet of water in my drainage ditch some 400 yards south of my barn according to a recent survey.” Borg said under the original plan they were going to lower the lake by five feet. Now he said they’ve revised it to three feet. He said another problem is the alkaline damage done to his land once the water recedes which he said is evident now following this dry spell.
Under the proposal, a 24 inch pipe would be buried for three quarters of a mile with another half-a-mile of channel improvements to drain water into the Sheyenne River. In the past, some township roads have been raised more than once. But this year, the water level has dropped due to a dry spring and summer.
Last year, the Barnes County Commission approved of a letter of support to use FEMA funding for the $800,000 Hobart Lake outlet project.