Benton County Ditch Authority moves to finalize CD 9 repair terms, sets interest and payback parameters
June 03, 2025 | Benton County, Minnesota
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The Benton County Ditch Authority reopened a continued public hearing on County Drainage Ditch No. 9 on June 3 to review the repair project, confirm costs and set terms for assessments to repay county advance funds.
The repair contractor, Hellman Construction, completed the physical excavation and restoration work on CD 9; county staff recommended a final contractor payment after reviewing the construction and associated administration costs. "CD 9 is within Maywood and Glendorado Townships. It has 5.6 miles total length and it drains 11.3 square miles," Joe Lewis, consulting engineer, told the authority as he summarized the project and the record reestablishment work.
The project timeline began with a repair petition filed in mid-2020, a redetermination of benefits completed in mid-2022, a repair report and bid letting in late 2023, and construction that ran from November 2023 into 2024 with some follow-up work into mid-2024. Lewis said the low construction bid was $297,000 and the contractor’s work was completed to the project specifications.
Why it matters: landowners on the ditch will be assessed to repay county advances that funded the repair and related proceedings, and the authority must set the interest rate and payback period before assessments are finalized.
Summary of costs and recommendations
- County staff reported an engineer’s estimated construction cost of roughly $640,000 (the presentation referenced $640,793 and an alternate $643,793 figure); the accepted low bid was $297,000 and the reported actual construction cost was $332,120.00.
- The acceptance report to the authority recommended a final payment to Hellman Construction in the amount of $16,606.
- The broader CD 9 cost summary posted by staff — including publication notices, reestablishment of records, viewer fees, buffer-strip (easement) payments and wetland credits — was listed at about $495,000.
Discussion and public comment
Staff recapped how the repair and record reestablishment work was done, including surveying and probing the channel every ~1,000 feet to locate the original channel bottom for the redetermination of benefits. Lewis described two repair alternatives: a more aggressive option that would have required extensive wetland mitigation and a scaled-back option designed to avoid or minimize wetland impacts.
Several landowners asked procedural questions about when and how assessments and interest would be charged. "No payments can be made until the final order is accepted," Christine (staff member) said, adding that there will be a 45-day interest-free period after a final order is accepted and that interest will be calculated from day 46 and prorated monthly through December 31; after January 1 interest is charged for the full year. Christine said assessments will appear on property tax statements and be payable with the May/November installments.
Authority decisions
The authority expressed consensus around setting an interest rate of 2% and a payback period of up to 15 years (Minn. Stat. §103E.731 allows up to 15 years). Because members wanted staff to prepare written findings and an order reflecting the authority’s direction, the board voted to continue the hearing and consider the final order at its regular meeting on June 17 at 10:00 a.m. in order to finalize payment and the assessment schedule.
What remains: staff will draft the written order, finalize any remaining punch-list items with the contractor and prepare the assessment roll that will show each benefiting property’s share, the approved interest rate and the payment schedule. The authority’s decisions on interest and payback are procedural directions that precede the formal adoption of the final order and assessment roll.
Ending
The authority closed public comment on CD 9 after several landowners raised questions about engineering fees, buffer-strip payments (easement compensation) and the repayment schedule. The board’s June 17 meeting will include the formal findings and a vote to accept the contractor’s work and to approve the assessment schedule for CD 9.
The repair contractor, Hellman Construction, completed the physical excavation and restoration work on CD 9; county staff recommended a final contractor payment after reviewing the construction and associated administration costs. "CD 9 is within Maywood and Glendorado Townships. It has 5.6 miles total length and it drains 11.3 square miles," Joe Lewis, consulting engineer, told the authority as he summarized the project and the record reestablishment work.
The project timeline began with a repair petition filed in mid-2020, a redetermination of benefits completed in mid-2022, a repair report and bid letting in late 2023, and construction that ran from November 2023 into 2024 with some follow-up work into mid-2024. Lewis said the low construction bid was $297,000 and the contractor’s work was completed to the project specifications.
Why it matters: landowners on the ditch will be assessed to repay county advances that funded the repair and related proceedings, and the authority must set the interest rate and payback period before assessments are finalized.
Summary of costs and recommendations
- County staff reported an engineer’s estimated construction cost of roughly $640,000 (the presentation referenced $640,793 and an alternate $643,793 figure); the accepted low bid was $297,000 and the reported actual construction cost was $332,120.00.
- The acceptance report to the authority recommended a final payment to Hellman Construction in the amount of $16,606.
- The broader CD 9 cost summary posted by staff — including publication notices, reestablishment of records, viewer fees, buffer-strip (easement) payments and wetland credits — was listed at about $495,000.
Discussion and public comment
Staff recapped how the repair and record reestablishment work was done, including surveying and probing the channel every ~1,000 feet to locate the original channel bottom for the redetermination of benefits. Lewis described two repair alternatives: a more aggressive option that would have required extensive wetland mitigation and a scaled-back option designed to avoid or minimize wetland impacts.
Several landowners asked procedural questions about when and how assessments and interest would be charged. "No payments can be made until the final order is accepted," Christine (staff member) said, adding that there will be a 45-day interest-free period after a final order is accepted and that interest will be calculated from day 46 and prorated monthly through December 31; after January 1 interest is charged for the full year. Christine said assessments will appear on property tax statements and be payable with the May/November installments.
Authority decisions
The authority expressed consensus around setting an interest rate of 2% and a payback period of up to 15 years (Minn. Stat. §103E.731 allows up to 15 years). Because members wanted staff to prepare written findings and an order reflecting the authority’s direction, the board voted to continue the hearing and consider the final order at its regular meeting on June 17 at 10:00 a.m. in order to finalize payment and the assessment schedule.
What remains: staff will draft the written order, finalize any remaining punch-list items with the contractor and prepare the assessment roll that will show each benefiting property’s share, the approved interest rate and the payment schedule. The authority’s decisions on interest and payback are procedural directions that precede the formal adoption of the final order and assessment roll.
Ending
The authority closed public comment on CD 9 after several landowners raised questions about engineering fees, buffer-strip payments (easement compensation) and the repayment schedule. The board’s June 17 meeting will include the formal findings and a vote to accept the contractor’s work and to approve the assessment schedule for CD 9.
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