SF 1371

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to local government; increasing compensation
of watershed district managers; providing for board
elections; clarifying who can enter onto land;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 103D.225,
subdivision 4; 103D.315, subdivisions 6, 8; 103D.335,
subdivision 14.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 103D.225,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Selection of first board of managers.

(a) The
board shall select the first board of managers of a proposed
watershed district from the list of nominees in the
establishment petition except as provided in paragraph (b). The
number of managers may not be less than three nor more than
nine, except that a proposed watershed district entirely within
the metropolitan area may not have fewer than five managers. A
manager may not be a public officer of the county, state, or
federal government, except that a soil and water conservation
supervisor may be a manager. deleted text begin The term of the first board of
managers is for one year and until their successors can be
appointed and qualified.
deleted text end

(b) For a proposed watershed district entirely within the
metropolitan area, the board must select managers from a list of
persons nominated by one or more of the cities and towns
affected by the proposed watershed district. The list must
contain at least three nominees for each manager position. The
board must select managers to fairly represent the various
hydrologic areas within the proposed watershed district
according to their residence within an area. If the cities or
towns fail to nominate managers under this paragraph, the board
shall select managers under paragraph (a).

(c) In the order establishing a watershed district, the
board must prescribe the terms of office for the first board of
managers deleted text begin appointed by the county boards deleted text end as provided in
paragraphs (d) to (f).

(d) If the first board of managers has three members, the
term of office for the managers is one for a term of one year,
one for a term of two years, and one for a term of three years.

(e) If the first board of managers has five members, the
term of office for the managers is one for a term of one year,
two for a term of two years, and two for a term of three years.

(f) If the first board of managers does not have three or
five members, the managers must be appointed so that as nearly
as possible one-third serve terms of one year, one-third serve
terms of two years, and one-third serve terms of three years.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 103D.315,
subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Terms of office.

The term of office for a
manager is three years except for the first board of managers
appointed by the state board deleted text begin and the first board appointed by
the county board deleted text end . A manager's term continues until a successor
is appointed and qualified.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 103D.315,
subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Compensation.

The compensation of managers for
meetings and for performance of other necessary duties may not
exceed deleted text begin $55 deleted text end new text begin $75 new text end a day. Managers are entitled to reimbursement
for traveling and other necessary expenses incurred in the
performance of official duties.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 103D.335,
subdivision 14, is amended to read:

Subd. 14.

Entry on lands.

The managers new text begin , district staff,
or an agent, if the agent has written authorization from the
district stating the purpose of the entrance, new text end may enter lands
inside or outside the watershed district to make surveys and
investigations to accomplish the purposes of the watershed
district. The watershed district is liable for actual damages
resulting from entry.