DEPARTMENT: Parks
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Acquire Wicklund Trust Property In Waterford Township And Amend 2025 Parks Capital Improvement Program Budget
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the Jerry C. Wicklund and Audrey C. Wicklund Trust, under Agreement dated October 25, 2021, (Wicklund Trust) own 151 acres in Waterford Township; and
WHEREAS, the Wicklund Trust property is located within the Chub Creek Conservation Focus Area, identified in the 2020 Land Conservation Plan for Dakota County, and includes a portion of the future Chub Creek Greenway corridor identified in the 2008 Dakota County 2030 Park System Plan; and
WHEREAS, several State-listed rare plants have been identified on the Wicklund Trust property, and Jerry and Audrey Wicklund (Wicklund) have allowed County staff to harvest native seeds for use within the park system; and
WHEREAS, the Wicklunds planted many native trees and prairie species over their lifetime of ownership, in addition to investing extensive effort into controlling invasive species, such as buckthorn; and
WHEREAS, County staff began working with the Wicklunds in 2009 to permanently protect a portion of their property, and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 20-633 (December 14, 2020), the County Board of Commissioners approved the expenditure of up to $291,912 to acquire a 121.60-acre permanent natural area conservation easement (Easement) on the Wicklund property; and
WHEREAS, due to a reduction in landowner donation and a slight increase in the size of the Easement, the County Board of Commissioners rescinded Resolution No. 20-633 and by Resolution No. 21-185 (April 6, 2021), approved the expenditure of up to $339,412 to acquire a 122.43-acre Easement on the Wicklund property; and
WHEREAS, the Easement was acquired on May 14, 2021, using a combination of State Outdoor Heritage (OH) funds and County grant-match; and
WHEREAS, the Wicklunds transferred ownership of their property to the Jerry C. Wicklu...
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