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southern MN | In the past decade several ditch systems, most I think, were redetermined in my area.
They used a formula to assess every acre of the watershed a benifit of the drainage based on soil type , overland flow, and distance from the ditch. And probably other things. You are assessed taxes to support and maintain the ditch based on the benefit your acres get, whether you chose to use the drainage or not.
Land owners the ditches cross had an easement bought from them to allow cleaning and access. So got some money back, but of course they helped pay for this assessment so it was kind of pulled from one pocket and put back into the other pocket.
The drainage tax is administered by the county but each watershed is its own thing.
We went through the redetermination and a major ditch cleaning at about the same time.
By the time they were done the new assessment came to $260,000 spread over 3 years.
Probably cheap looking back in today’s dollars.
I think the redetermination got things a lot fairer, but as always there are different views and opinions and arguments.
Paul | |
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County mains for tile.
