NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners will consider a resolution regarding review of a proposed 80-acre land acquisition in Section 36, Leavenworth Township by the State of Minnesota Tuesday.

The land would be included in the Verona State Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for water, wildlife conservation, and public access.

After considerable discussion with Redwood Falls Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Area Wildlife Manager Jeff Zajac, commissioners unanimously tabled the proposal Sept. 18. Commissioners wanted more information, including PILT (Payments In Lieu of Taxes) payments long-term and weed control.

WMA’s provide yearlong recreation for hunters, trappers, fishermen, birdwatchers, other nature lovers, and can can be a valuable economic asset to local communities by encouraging tourism, according to an Aug. 31 letter to commissioners from Zajac.

In addition, the proposed PILT is $2,885.25, based on 3/4 of 1% of the land’s appraised value. Taxes for the 2019 tax year are assessed at $880.75.

The Cropland Equivalency Rating (CER) average for tillable land on the parcel is very low at 41.05 (as per the County GIS system). The parcel is primarily excessively drained sand, according to Zajac.

In a Sept. 25 letter to Brown County Commissioner Charles Enter, Zajak said he and DNR staff scout for weed problems while performing other duties at WMAs.

“We also respond to any complaints from townships (none have contacted me directly about a specific problem in at least three years), the county, and private individuals,” Zajak wrote.

In addition, to thistles, Zajac wrote he is paying close attention to wild parsnip infestations, which he said is being treated as the DNR finds it.

Zajac said if weeds are going to seed, sites are mowed and sprayed with herbicide that fall or the following spring. He said if weeds are caught early enough, they are sprayed in early spring and early summer.

Commissioners will also consider:

• A GEI Consultants Inc. proposal to develop a Brown County Sanitary Landfill load pad design, permitting coordination, meeting costs, permit renewal, Nature and Extent investigation and report and submit it to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Total cost of the proposal is estimated at $16,200.

• Accept and authorize GEI Consultants to provide preliminary development of the application to conduct a Demonstration Research Project (DRP) estimated to cost $24,900. A new, proposed landfill spray field can be used contingent upon completion of a DRP, which is used to evaluate the treatability of constituents in leachate that could lead to groundwater impacts if leachate is applied to the north spray field.

Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (man-made chemicals not found naturally in the environment) and Boran have been detected in groundwater above their respective intervention limit (IL) in monitoring wells installed at the existing spray field. The DRP will be directed at the pre-treatment of leachate to control those constituents.

• Consider a quote for two more License Bureau Office workstations. With implementation of Real ID on Oct. 1, expansion into Conference Room B is needed to accommodate the lengthy process to issue Real and Enhanced IDs at the office.

The process requires review of sensitive documents and customer privacy. Additional space is needed to service the anticipated increase in licenses that will be issued.

The board meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, in the courthouse commissioners’ room.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.