PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF MINNESOTA TURTLE
Details
12/31/2025
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PUBLIC NOTICE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
TURTLE CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT BOARD OF MANAGERS
ACTING AS THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY FOR
COUNTY DITCH J27
NOTICE OF COMBINED FINAL HEARINGS - CORRECTED
Please Take Notice: The Turtle Creek Watershed District Board of Managers, Drainage Authority for Freeborn County Ditch J27 (“CD J27”) will hold a combined final hearing on the redetermination of benefits for CD J27 and the petitioned improvement of CD J27 on January 20, 2026, at the Hollandale Government Center located at 102 Park Avenue W, Hollandale, Minnesota, with the hearing on redetermination of benefits beginning at 5:15 p.m. and the hearing on the improvement beginning immediately after conclusion of the redetermination of benefits hearing. The petition for improvement, viewers’ reports of redetermined benefits and improvement benefits and damages are received and on file with the Drainage Authority. The detailed survey report (engineer’s report) and Final DNR advisory report for the petitioned improvement are received and also on file with the Drainage Authority. The petition and reports, along with amendments, if any, are available for inspection at Freeborn County by contacting Amy Conner, Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer, by email or phone (amy.conner@co.freeborn.mn.us or 507-377-5121).
At the final hearing, the Drainage Authority will accept public comment regarding the viewers’ reports and engineer’s reports. Any party having an interest in the proceedings may appear and provide comment. Written comments will be accepted through close of business on January 20, 2026, by email or by U.S. Mail to the Freeborn County Auditor’s office (amy.conner@co.freeborn.mn.us or Freeborn County, Attn: Amy Conner, 411 S. Broadway, P.O. Box 1147, Albert Lea, MN 56007).
The proposed improvement of CD J27 includes installing non-perforated dual-wall HDPE tile ranging from 8 to 24 inches in diameter to replace Branches B, D, D-1, and D-2 tiles, replacing all open tile inlets with alternative inlets, and downsizing Bridge 89286 to a single 12’ x 6’ reinforced concrete box culvert. This design creates 5.2 acre-feet of upstream storage, reduces peak flows, and lowers bridge replacement costs. The description of the CD J27 drainage system affected by the project is as follows:
Main Open Ditch: Commencing at the intersection with the Mud Creek Extension of Joint County Ditch No. J24 in the NW ¼ SW ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W, thence easterly through NW ¼ SW ¼, S ½ SW ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W and terminating near the S ¼ corner Section 19-T104N-R19W.
Branch B Open Ditch and Tile: Commencing at the intersection with the Main Open Ditch in the S ½ SW ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W, thence northerly through SW ¼, S ½ NW ¼, NW ¼ NW ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W and terminating in the NE ¼ NW ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W.
Branch D Tile: Commencing at the intersection with the Main Open Ditch in the SE ¼ SW ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W, thence north and easterly through E ½ SW ¼, W ½ SE ¼, NE ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W, W ½ SE ¼ Section 18-T104N-R19W and terminating in the SW ¼ NE ¼ Section 18-T104N-R19W.
Branch D-1 Tile: Commencing at the intersection with Branch D Tile near the center NE ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W, thence northeasterly through NE ¼ NE ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W and terminating in the SE ¼ SE ¼ Section 18-T104N-R19W.
Branch D-2 Tile: Commencing at the intersection with Branch D-1 Tile in the NE ¼ NE ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W, thence northeasterly through NE ¼ NE ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W and terminating in the NW ¼ NW ¼ Section 20-T104N-R19W.
The Drainage Authority will consider the application of separable maintenance as part of the improvement. If separable maintenance is applied, the repair cost portion of the improvement will be off-set from the improvement costs and assessed against the redetermined, pre-improvement benefits.
The following properties are affected by the proposed improvement and redetermination of benefits and damages:
Geneva Township, (T104-R20), Section 13, Freeborn County
Newry Township, (T104-R19), Sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 30, Freeborn County
The following owners of property are affected by the proposed improvement and redetermination of benefits:
ARTHUR OWEN FERGUSON TR; BORGEN, TINA; BUTLER, JOHN T & JEANETTE; BUTLER, JOHN T; BUTLER, THOMAS W BUTLER & CHRISTINE M; DEBEAU, MICHAEL W; DEBEAU, MICHAEL; DIOCESE OF WINONA ST MARY CHURCH; DIOCESE OF WINONA; ELVIN STEENSMA TR & CONSTANCE STEENSMA TR; ELVIN STEENSMA TR, ETAL; FRANK, KAREN M FRANK & TROY; HINRICHS, TODD AARON; JOHN W ANGELL TR; KNUTSON FAMILY TR; MCCARTHY, SHAWN P MCCARTHY & STEPHANIE F; MICHAEL W O'CONNOR TR & BEVERLY R O'CONNOR TR; MILLER, MARK R MILLER & VANESSA M; NEWRY TAISCE, LLC; PATRICIA J SEVERSON TR, ETAL; STEVEN O WANGEN TR & LINDA A WANGEN TR; WILLETTE, KEVIN WILLETTE & JODI;
The following governmental entities are affected by the proposed improvement and redetermination of benefits:
FREEBORN COUNTY; GENEVA TOWNSHIP; NEWRY TOWNSHIP
Dated this 18th day of December, 2025.
Amy Conner
Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer
Albert Lea Tribune: Dec. 31, 2025, Jan 7, 14 and 17, 2026
HEARING/DITCH J27
STATE OF MINNESOTA
TURTLE CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT BOARD OF MANAGERS
ACTING AS THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY FOR
COUNTY DITCH J27
NOTICE OF COMBINED FINAL HEARINGS - CORRECTED
Please Take Notice: The Turtle Creek Watershed District Board of Managers, Drainage Authority for Freeborn County Ditch J27 (“CD J27”) will hold a combined final hearing on the redetermination of benefits for CD J27 and the petitioned improvement of CD J27 on January 20, 2026, at the Hollandale Government Center located at 102 Park Avenue W, Hollandale, Minnesota, with the hearing on redetermination of benefits beginning at 5:15 p.m. and the hearing on the improvement beginning immediately after conclusion of the redetermination of benefits hearing. The petition for improvement, viewers’ reports of redetermined benefits and improvement benefits and damages are received and on file with the Drainage Authority. The detailed survey report (engineer’s report) and Final DNR advisory report for the petitioned improvement are received and also on file with the Drainage Authority. The petition and reports, along with amendments, if any, are available for inspection at Freeborn County by contacting Amy Conner, Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer, by email or phone (amy.conner@co.freeborn.mn.us or 507-377-5121).
At the final hearing, the Drainage Authority will accept public comment regarding the viewers’ reports and engineer’s reports. Any party having an interest in the proceedings may appear and provide comment. Written comments will be accepted through close of business on January 20, 2026, by email or by U.S. Mail to the Freeborn County Auditor’s office (amy.conner@co.freeborn.mn.us or Freeborn County, Attn: Amy Conner, 411 S. Broadway, P.O. Box 1147, Albert Lea, MN 56007).
The proposed improvement of CD J27 includes installing non-perforated dual-wall HDPE tile ranging from 8 to 24 inches in diameter to replace Branches B, D, D-1, and D-2 tiles, replacing all open tile inlets with alternative inlets, and downsizing Bridge 89286 to a single 12’ x 6’ reinforced concrete box culvert. This design creates 5.2 acre-feet of upstream storage, reduces peak flows, and lowers bridge replacement costs. The description of the CD J27 drainage system affected by the project is as follows:
Main Open Ditch: Commencing at the intersection with the Mud Creek Extension of Joint County Ditch No. J24 in the NW ¼ SW ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W, thence easterly through NW ¼ SW ¼, S ½ SW ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W and terminating near the S ¼ corner Section 19-T104N-R19W.
Branch B Open Ditch and Tile: Commencing at the intersection with the Main Open Ditch in the S ½ SW ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W, thence northerly through SW ¼, S ½ NW ¼, NW ¼ NW ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W and terminating in the NE ¼ NW ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W.
Branch D Tile: Commencing at the intersection with the Main Open Ditch in the SE ¼ SW ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W, thence north and easterly through E ½ SW ¼, W ½ SE ¼, NE ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W, W ½ SE ¼ Section 18-T104N-R19W and terminating in the SW ¼ NE ¼ Section 18-T104N-R19W.
Branch D-1 Tile: Commencing at the intersection with Branch D Tile near the center NE ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W, thence northeasterly through NE ¼ NE ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W and terminating in the SE ¼ SE ¼ Section 18-T104N-R19W.
Branch D-2 Tile: Commencing at the intersection with Branch D-1 Tile in the NE ¼ NE ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W, thence northeasterly through NE ¼ NE ¼ Section 19-T104N-R19W and terminating in the NW ¼ NW ¼ Section 20-T104N-R19W.
The Drainage Authority will consider the application of separable maintenance as part of the improvement. If separable maintenance is applied, the repair cost portion of the improvement will be off-set from the improvement costs and assessed against the redetermined, pre-improvement benefits.
The following properties are affected by the proposed improvement and redetermination of benefits and damages:
Geneva Township, (T104-R20), Section 13, Freeborn County
Newry Township, (T104-R19), Sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 30, Freeborn County
The following owners of property are affected by the proposed improvement and redetermination of benefits:
ARTHUR OWEN FERGUSON TR; BORGEN, TINA; BUTLER, JOHN T & JEANETTE; BUTLER, JOHN T; BUTLER, THOMAS W BUTLER & CHRISTINE M; DEBEAU, MICHAEL W; DEBEAU, MICHAEL; DIOCESE OF WINONA ST MARY CHURCH; DIOCESE OF WINONA; ELVIN STEENSMA TR & CONSTANCE STEENSMA TR; ELVIN STEENSMA TR, ETAL; FRANK, KAREN M FRANK & TROY; HINRICHS, TODD AARON; JOHN W ANGELL TR; KNUTSON FAMILY TR; MCCARTHY, SHAWN P MCCARTHY & STEPHANIE F; MICHAEL W O'CONNOR TR & BEVERLY R O'CONNOR TR; MILLER, MARK R MILLER & VANESSA M; NEWRY TAISCE, LLC; PATRICIA J SEVERSON TR, ETAL; STEVEN O WANGEN TR & LINDA A WANGEN TR; WILLETTE, KEVIN WILLETTE & JODI;
The following governmental entities are affected by the proposed improvement and redetermination of benefits:
FREEBORN COUNTY; GENEVA TOWNSHIP; NEWRY TOWNSHIP
Dated this 18th day of December, 2025.
Amy Conner
Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer
Albert Lea Tribune: Dec. 31, 2025, Jan 7, 14 and 17, 2026
HEARING/DITCH J27