Pipeline condemnation proceedings under way

Earlier this summer, Minnesota Pipe Line reported it had reached easement agreements with about 85 percent of the landowners along the MinnCan Project route.

Condemnation proceedings against the remaining holdouts are under way, and a single judge — Meeker County Judge Steven E. Drange — has been appointed to hear cases for all 13 affected counties.

Minnesota Pipe Line hopes to exercise what is known as a “quick take” option on Sept. 27. While the courts are figuring out how much landowners should finally be paid, MPL will make an initial payment to landowners and start site work along the pipeline route.

The company recently filed a legal motion for an order allowing its agents to begin surveying work, without interference from landowners, prior to Sept. 27.

According to MPL spokesperson Jennifer Hellman, the company wants to get a jump on surveying early for a number of reasons.

It will be safer for workers to finish as much of their work as possible before hunting starts. Also, if they can complete most of their work before the snow flies, they’ll have a better understanding of the land’s topography and the location of drain tiles.

Attorney Rod Krass, who is representing 47 landowners in their negotiations with MPL, said the workers might also start staking out the centerline for the pipeline route.

Today (Aug. 30), Judge Drange will hear landowners’ concerns about their rights during the early surveying phase.

Krass said he and MPL’s legal representation have agreed on a certain amount of protection for landowners, and he expects the hearing to go well.

MPL’s right to enter private lands will likely be subject to the following conditions:

• MPL must proceed in a way that causes the least private injury,

• MPL must give reasonable notice, 24 hours ahead of time, before entering properties,

• MPL must ensure livestock does not escape and that gates and fences are left the way they were found,

• survey work must be limited to the general area of the proposed pipeline,

• no trees can be cut on landowners’ property, and

• MPL must compensate landowners for any damages that result from conducting the surveys.

For more information on the pipeline project, see the Aug. 30 Leader print edition.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)