Legislation Details

File #: DC-5828    Version: 1
Type: Consent Action Status: Passed
File created: 6/30/2026 In control: Board of Commissioners
On agenda: 8/4/2026 Final action: 8/4/2026
Enactment date: 8/4/2026 Resolution #: 26-331
Title: Approval Of Right Of Way Acquisition Of Fee Title And Trail Easement For Temporary Construction Easement For River To River Greenway In City Of Mendota Heights, County Project 2000640
Sponsors: Parks
Attachments: 1. Minea Parcel Acquisition, 2. River to River Project Location

DEPARTMENT: Parks

FILE TYPE: Consent Action

 

TITLE

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Approval Of Right Of Way Acquisition Of Fee Title And Trail Easement For Temporary Construction Easement For River To River Greenway In City Of Mendota Heights, County Project 2000640

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RESOLUTION

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WHEREAS, to provide a safe and efficient regional greenway transportation system, Dakota County is proceeding with the River to River Greenway County Project (2000640); and

 

WHEREAS, County Project 2000640, Phase Two, will entail the construction of about one mile of shared use trail, including a tunnel under Dodd Road, in Mendota Heights; and

 

WHEREAS, Dakota County is the lead agency for design, construction administration, and right of way acquisition necessary in 2026 for construction to begin 2028; and

 

WHEREAS, the acquisition of permanent and temporary construction easements from one (1) private property parcel is necessary; and

 

WHEREAS, the acquisition of the following parcel is necessary to move forward with the project:

 

27-16280-00-020 - Timothy P Minea

 

Temporary Easement:

 

A temporary easement for greenway purposes over, under, and across that part of Lot 2, Block 1, Campion Estates, according to the recorded plat thereof, Dakota County, Minnesota, described as follows:

 

Commencing at the southeast corner of said Lot 2; thence North 89 degrees 51 minutes 55 seconds West, assumed bearing along the south line of said Lot 2 a distance of 31.91 feet to the point of beginning; thence North 30 degrees 37 minutes 04 seconds East a distance of 66.18 feet; thence North 76 degrees 03 minutes 46 seconds East a distance of 21.57 feet to the east line of said Lot 2; thence South 20 degrees 03 minutes 58 seconds West along said east line a distance of 17.45 feet; thence South 46 degrees 45 minutes 35 seconds West a distance of 66.78 feet to the point of beginning.

 

Said temporary easement area contains approximately 770 square feet.

 

Fee Title (will need to be split prior to purchase and will then have its own PID):

 

That part of Lot 2, Block 1, Campion Estates, according to the recorded plat thereof, Dakota County, Minnesota, described as follows:

 

Beginning at the southeast corner of said Lot 2; thence North 89 degrees 51 minutes 55 seconds West assumed bearing along the south line of said Lot 2 a distance of 31.91 feet; thence North 46 degrees 45 minutes 35 seconds East a distance of 66.78 feet to the east line of said Lot 2; thence South 20 degrees 03 minutes 58 seconds West along said east line a distance of 48.79 feet to said southeast corner and the point of beginning.

 

Said area contains approximately 732 square feet.

 

27-16280-01-030 Timothy P. Minea

 

Temporary Easement:

 

A temporary easement for greenway purposes over, under, and across that part of Lot 3, Block 1, Campion Estates, according to the recorded plat thereof, Dakota County, Minnesota, described as follows:

 

Commencing at the southwest corner of said Lot 3; thence North 20 degrees 03 minutes 58 seconds East, assumed bearing along a westerly line of said Lot 3 a distance of 76.80 feet to the point of beginning; thence continuing North 20 degrees 03 minutes 58 seconds East along said westerly line a distance of 17.45 feet; thence North 76 degrees 03 minutes 46 seconds East a distance of 82.12 feet; thence North 81 degrees 20 minutes 22 seconds East a distance of 32.65 feet; thence South 88 degrees 11 minutes 48 seconds East a distance of 103.73 feet; thence North 30 degrees 41 minutes 42 seconds East a distance of 204.40 feet to the north line of said Lot 3; thence South 87 degrees 52 minutes 02 seconds East along said north line a distance of 11.39 feet to the northeast corner of said Lot 3; thence South 30 degrees 41 minutes 42 seconds West along the east line of said Lot 3 a distance of 251.69 feet; thence North 69 degrees 08 minutes 05 seconds West a distance of 38.41 feet; thence North 83 degrees 55 minutes 06 seconds West a distance of 50.06 feet; thence South

82 degrees 43 minutes 34 seconds West a distance of 124.21 feet to the point of beginning.

 

Said temporary easement area contains approximately 7,793 square feet.

 

Fee Title (will need to be split prior to purchase and will then have its own PID):

 

That part of Lot 3, Block 1, Campion Estates, according to the recorded plat thereof, Dakota County, Minnesota, lying southerly of the following described line:

 

Commencing at the southwest corner of said Lot 3; thence North 20 degrees 03 minutes 58 seconds East, assumed bearing along a westerly line of said Lot 3 a distance of 76.80 feet to the point of beginning of the line to be described; thence North 82 degrees 43 minutes 34 seconds East a distance of 124.21 feet; thence South 83 degrees 55 minutes 06 seconds East a distance of 50.06 feet; thence South 69 degrees 08 minutes 05 seconds East a distance of 38.41 feet to the easterly line of said Lot 3 and said line there terminating.

 

Said area contains approximately 15,160 square feet; and

 

WHEREAS, the acquisition includes 22,020 square feet of fee simple acquisition in the southern portion of the site; and

 

WHEREAS, the acquisition also included 8,563 square feet of temporary easement along the proposed fee simple acquisition and along the eastern border of the site.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the appraised value prepared by Valbridge Property Advisors for the acquisition of the right of way for County Project 2000640 and authorizes County staff in its discretion, to share the

appraisal data with the respective landowners, including all or portions of the completed appraisals

 as part of the negotiations process; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the acquisition of right of way for County Project 2000640 at the approved appraised value and, in accordance with County policy, authorizes payment from the available 2026 Parks Capital Improvement Program Budget; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Division Director to execute a purchase agreement with the respective owners to acquire easements on their property, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office

 as to form; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes staff to submit an Acquisition Opportunity Fund grant request to the Metropolitan Council to receive up to 75 percent of the property acquisition costs; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Board Chair to execute an Agreement and Restrictive Covenant with the Metropolitan Council, which is required by the Metropolitan Council as part of an Acquisition Opportunity Fund grant agreement; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That following acquisition of the property, staff will submit the necessary forms and documentation to the Metropolitan Council to receive approximately $111,150

of reimbursement funds that will be returned to the 2026 Parks Capital Improvement Program.

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BACKGROUND

This River to River Greenway trail segment was originally proposed to be a single bid package (County funded) with construction scheduled for 2023. However, the segment was eventually split into two phases, each with its own bid package, and delayed by over two years. Phase One is from Marie Ave. to Lilydale Rd. (construction in 2025/2026) while Phase Two is from Dodd Rd/Trunk Highway (TH)149 to Marie Ave (construction tentatively scheduled for 2028 construction season). Phase One is County funded and Phase Two will be funded via County and Federal funds.

 

Phase One (Marie Ave to Lilydale Rd)

                     Widening existing trail to County greenway standards

                     Two existing bridge replacements.

                     Water main replacement design and coordination with St. Paul Regional Water Services.

 

Phase Two (Dodd Rd/TH 149 to Marie Ave)

                     Full-depth reclamation of existing trail between Marie Avenue and Dodd Road and widening of trail to County Greenway standards.

                     Construction of new box culvert tunnel under Dodd Road near intersection of Trunk Highway 149.

                     Future connection to Lebanon Hills Greenway.

 

RECOMMENDATION

recommendation

Staff recommends approval of right of way acquisition for the right of way necessary for County Project 2000640 for the construction to begin in 2028 as scheduled.

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FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPACTS

Currently, there are available funds from the Parks Transportation Advance Account and Allocated Parks Sales and Use Tax in the approved 2026 Parks Capital Improvement Program budget for this acquisition. Federal funding was secured for this project through 2024 Regional Solicitation (Surface Transportation Block Grant and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement programs), which require a 25% County funding match. Additional Acquisition Opportunity Fund funds for the project will be requested, contingent on Metropolitan Council Approval to receive grant dollars.

 

Project 2000640 River to River Greenway - Mendota Heights TH149

Funding Source

Total Approved Budget

Total Available Budget

Transportation Advance Acct

$731,805

$731,805

Sales & Use Tax

$860,195

$860,195

Federal STBG & CMAQ Grant

$2,080,000

$2,080,000

Total

$3,672,000

$3,672,000

 

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION

None.

 

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment: Minea Parcel Acquisition

Attachment: River to River Project Location

 

CONTACT

Department Director: Niki Geisler

Author: Mike Adams