Steele County public meetings in 2025

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource District is holding its regular monthly meeting to discuss updates on drainage projects, a complaint, and upcoming joint water board meetings. The board will also consider office updates, a reimbursement policy, and financial reports.

• Update on Hanson/Meyers complaint
• Update on Fugleberg Land Group
• Drain 1 rock/dirt removal, Drain 2 tree cleanout, Drain 8 culvert installation updates
• Elm River Dam meeting on December 11, 2025
• Special bid opening meeting on December 15, 2025

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource District approved a construction plan for the Drain 1 Outlet flood mitigation project, selecting a modified rock chute design over a drain extension. The board authorized the advertisement of construction bids, which will be opened on December 15, 2025. Additionally, the board approved a drain tile permit and authorized the purchase of right-of-way land for the project.

• Approved Mitigation Alternative 2 (Modified Rock Chute) with an estimated total cost of $2,130,000
• Approved advertisement for construction bids to be opened on December 15, 2025
• Approved drain tile permit application for Luke Julison on Section 12-145-57 N ½
• Authorized attorney to negotiate right-of-way acquisition from Annie Amb (Parcel No. 05000000866100)
• Approved joining the Steele County server for IT infrastructure

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource District is holding its regular monthly meeting to discuss and decide on drainage-related matters, including FEMA projects, drain cleanouts, culvert installations, and assessments. The board will also consider new drain tile installations under 80 acres for four landowners and review a drainage complaint reimbursement policy. The meeting includes public comment and reports on joint water resource district meetings.

• FEMA Projects: Drain 1 Outlet
• Drain 2-Tree Cleanout
• Drain 8 Update-Culvert Installation
• Drain Tile-Under 80 acres for Kyle Zerface, Myron Berg, Keith Jacobson, David Laughlin
• Elm River Dam discussion at 9:30 a.m.

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource Board met to review the Drain 1 project history, schedule, and maps. A landowner raised a question about the benefit percentage, which will be reviewed after the vote if it passes. The ballot vote ends October 15, 2025, at noon. The next general monthly meeting is scheduled for October 7, 2025.

• Ballot vote on Drain 1 project ends October 15, 2025 at noon
• Benefit percentage review to follow if vote passes
• Landowner Tommy Erickson questioned drainage direction in S1/2 of Section 6-147-54
• Next general monthly meeting set for October 7, 2025 at 8:00 a.m.

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource Board approved a Notice of Order requiring the fill of an unauthorized surface drain on the Fisher property (NE ¼ of Section 15) to elevation 1121, about 400 feet wide, after determining the ditch improvements exceeded normal maintenance and required a permit. The board also kept the existing Drain 12 assessment district unchanged and discussed but did not decide on the Fugleberg drainage permit, which will be revisited in April. FEMA-funded projects for Drains 6 and 11 are complete, while Drain 1 mitigation awaits FEMA obligation.

• Approved agenda with addition of Fugleberg Surface Drainage Permit (3-0)
• Approved minutes from February 4, 2025 meeting (3-0)
• Approved Notice of Order to fill drain on NE ¼ of Section 15 to elevation 1121, ~400 feet wide (3-0)
• Kept current Drain 12 existing assessment district (3-0)
• Approved treasurer's report, paid all bills, and approved financial reports (3-0)

Meeting

The board reviewed a drainage complaint and found that surface ditch improvements on the Fisher property exceeded normal maintenance and required a permit, but deferred action on other properties pending further investigation. The Drain 4 & 12 re-assessment was tabled, and the board discussed FEMA-funded projects and the Elm River Dam construction status.

• Approved agenda with addition of Fugleberg surface drainage permit discussion
• Approved minutes from January 8, 2025 meeting
• Determined Fisher property ditch improvements required a surface drain permit (violation)
• Tabled Drain 4 & 12 re-assessment until March meeting
• Approved treasurer's report and paid bills (checks 8844-8852) (2-0, Bergstrom absent)

Meeting

The Steele County Water Resource District will hold its regular meeting to discuss updates on FEMA-related drainage projects, a drainage complaint, and re-assessments of several drains. They will also address the Elm River Dam meeting, joint water resource district matters, and routine administrative items like contracts and the treasurer's report.

• FEMA site update on Drain 1 Outlet, Drain 6, and Drain 11
• Drainage complaint from Hanson/Meyers
• Re-assessment of Drain 12, Drain 11, and Drain 4
• Elm River Dam meeting scheduled for January 21, 2025 at 10:00 A.M.
• Contract review with Nilson Brand Law and Moore Engineering

The Steele County Water Resource Board approved a motion to direct Engineer Pease and Attorney Tostenson to prepare documents for reassessments of Drains 4, 11, and 12. The board also approved contracts for legal and engineering services, continued board positions, and approved the treasurer's report and bills. FEMA updates were provided, including approval of mitigation for Drain 1 and completed construction for Drains 6 and 11.

• Approved motion to prepare reassessment documents for Drains 4, 11, and 12 (3-0)
• Approved contracts for Nilson Brand Law and Moore Engineering, continued board positions, approved Pledge of Securities from Bravera Bank, treasurer's report, and bills (3-0)
• Approved checks 8840-8843
• Approved agenda with addition of Beaver Creek
• Approved minutes from December 3, 2024 meeting