1997 Minnesota Statutes

     298.22 Iron range resources and rehabilitation. 

    Subdivision 1.  (1) The governor shall appoint the 
 commissioner of iron range resources and rehabilitation under 
 section 15.06. 

    (2) The commissioner may hold other positions or 
 appointments that are not incompatible with duties as 
 commissioner of iron range resources and rehabilitation.  The 
 commissioner may appoint a deputy commissioner.  All expenses of 
 the commissioner, including the payment of such assistance as 
 may be necessary, must be paid out of the amounts appropriated 
 by section 298.28.  The salary of the commissioner must be set 
 by the legislative coordinating commission and may not exceed 75 
 percent of the salary of the governor. 

    (3) When the commissioner determines that distress and 
 unemployment exists or may exist in the future in any county by 
 reason of the removal of natural resources or a possibly limited 
 use of natural resources in the future and any resulting 
 decrease in employment, the commissioner may use whatever 
 amounts of the appropriation made to the commissioner of revenue 
 in section 298.28 that are determined to be necessary and proper 
 in the development of the remaining resources of the county and 
 in the vocational training and rehabilitation of its residents, 
 except that the amount needed to cover cost overruns awarded to 
 a contractor by an arbitrator in relation to a contract awarded 
 by the commissioner or in effect after July 1, 1985, is 
 appropriated from the general fund.  For the purposes of this 
 section, "development of remaining resources" includes, but is 
 not limited to, the promotion of tourism. 

    Subd. 2.  There is hereby created the iron range resources 
 and rehabilitation board, consisting of 11 members, five of whom 
 shall be state senators appointed by the subcommittee on 
 committees of the rules committee of the senate, and five of 
 whom shall be representatives, appointed by the speaker of the 
 house of representatives, their terms of office to commence on 
 May 1, 1943, and continue until January 3rd, 1945, or until 
 their successors are appointed and qualified.  Their successors 
 shall be appointed each two years in the same manner as the 
 original members were appointed, in January of every second 
 year, commencing in January, 1945.  The 11th member of said 
 board shall be the commissioner of natural resources of the 
 state of Minnesota.  Vacancies on the board shall be filled in 
 the same manner as the original members were chosen.  At least a 
 majority of the legislative members of the board shall be 
 elected from state senatorial or legislative districts in which 
 over 50 percent of the residents reside within a tax relief area 
 as defined in section 273.134.  All expenditures and projects 
 made by the commissioner of iron range resources and 
 rehabilitation shall first be submitted to said iron range 
 resources and rehabilitation board for approval by at least 
 eight board members of expenditures and projects for 
 rehabilitation purposes as provided by this section, and the 
 method, manner, and time of payment of all said funds proposed 
 to be disbursed shall be first approved or disapproved by said 
 board.  The board shall biennially make its report to the 
 governor and the legislature on or before November 15 of each 
 even-numbered year.  The expenses of said board shall be paid by 
 the state of Minnesota from the funds raised pursuant to this 
 section. 

    Subd. 3.  Whenever the commissioner of iron range resources 
 and rehabilitation has made determinations required by 
 subdivision 1 and has determined that distress and unemployment 
 exists or may exist in the future in any county by reason of the 
 removal of the natural resources or a possible limited use 
 thereof in the future and the decrease in employment resulting 
 therefrom and deems that the acquirement of real estate or 
 personal property is necessary and proper in the development of 
 the remaining resources, the commissioner may acquire such 
 property or interests therein by gift, purchase or lease.  The 
 commissioner may purchase insurance to protect any property 
 acquired from loss or damage by fire, or to protect the 
 commissioner from any liability the commissioner may incur by 
 reason of ownership of the property, or both.  If after such 
 property is acquired it is necessary in the judgment of the 
 commissioner to acquire a right-of-way for access to projects 
 operated on property acquired, by gift, purchase or lease, said 
 right-of-way may be acquired by condemnation in the manner 
 provided by law. 

    Subd. 4.  Whenever property has been granted and conveyed 
 to the state of Minnesota in accordance with an agreement made 
 by the commissioner of iron range resources and rehabilitation 
 and the commissioner of administration for the necessary and 
 proper development of the remaining resources of any distressed 
 county, such grants, and conveyances or leases are hereby 
 accepted in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof. 

    Subd. 5.  In order to carry out the terms and provisions of 
 this section, the commissioner of iron range resources and 
 rehabilitation and the commissioner of administration may lease 
 any property acquired hereunder for a term not to exceed 20 
 years upon such terms as they may determine, provided that such 
 property shall not be leased to any person in such a manner as 
 to constitute a direct contribution of working capital to a 
 business enterprise. Such lease may provide that in the event 
 the property is ever sold by the state to such lessee, the 
 lessee may obtain a credit on the purchase price covering the 
 rentals paid under the lease or any renewals thereof and that 
 said real estate can be conveyed by the commissioner of iron 
 range resources and rehabilitation and the commissioner of 
 administration and the said commissioners are hereby authorized 
 to make such conveyances. 

    Subd. 6.    Equity participation.  The board may acquire 
 an equity interest in any project for which it provides funding. 

    Subd. 7.    Giants ridge recreation area.  (a) In 
 addition to the other powers granted in this section and other 
 law, the commissioner, for purposes of fostering economic 
 development and tourism within the Giants Ridge recreation area, 
 may spend any money made available to the agency under section 
 298.28 to acquire real or personal property or interests therein 
 by gift, purchase, or lease and may convey by lease, sale, or 
 other means of conveyance or commitment any or all of those 
 property interests acquired.  

    (b) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, property 
 conveyed under this subdivision and used for residential 
 purposes is not eligible for property tax homestead 
 classification under section 273.124 or for a property tax 
 refund under chapter 290A. 

    (c) In furtherance of development of the Giants Ridge 
 recreation area, the commissioner may establish and participate 
 in charitable foundations and nonprofit corporations, including 
 a corporation within the meaning of section 317A.011, 
 subdivision 6. 

    (d) The term "Giants Ridge recreation area" refers to an 
 economic development project area established by the 
 commissioner in furtherance of the powers delegated in this 
 section within St. Louis county in the western portions of the 
 town of White and in the eastern portion of the westerly, 
 adjacent, unorganized township. 

    HIST: 1941 c 544 s 4; 1943 c 590 s 4; 1949 c 739 s 22; 1951 c 
 713 s 31; 1957 c 882 s 1; Ex1959 c 49 s 1; 1969 c 399 s 43,49; 
 1969 c 1129 art 8 s 9; art 10 s 2; 1971 c 25 s 59; 1973 c 613 s 
 1; 1974 c 406 s 67; 1975 c 271 s 6; 1977 c 305 s 34; 1977 c 423 
 art 10 s 8,9; 1980 c 607 art 7 s 3; 1983 c 301 s 183; 1986 c 
 444; 1Sp1986 c 3 art 2 s 49; 1987 c 404 s 162; 1988 c 719 art 19 
 s 16; 1995 c 224 s 92; 1996 c 452 s 34; 1997 c 200 art 1 s 71; 
 2Sp1997 c 3 s 14