2007 Minnesota Statutes

103E.701 REPAIRS.
    Subdivision 1. Definition. The term "repair," as used in this section, means to restore all or a
part of a drainage system as nearly as practicable to the same condition as originally constructed
and subsequently improved, including resloping of ditches and leveling of waste banks if
necessary to prevent further deterioration, realignment to original construction if necessary to
restore the effectiveness of the drainage system, and routine operations that may be required to
remove obstructions and maintain the efficiency of the drainage system. "Repair" also includes:
(1) incidental straightening of a tile system resulting from the tile-laying technology used
to replace tiles; and
(2) replacement of tiles with the next larger size that is readily available, if the original
size is not readily available.
    Subd. 2. Repairs affecting public waters. Before a repair is ordered, the drainage authority
must notify the commissioner if the repair may affect public waters. If the commissioner disagrees
with the repair depth, the engineer, a representative appointed by the director, and a soil and water
conservation district technician must jointly determine the repair depth using soil borings, field
surveys, and other available data or appropriate methods. Costs for determining the repair depth
beyond the initial meeting must be shared equally by the drainage system and the commissioner.
The determined repair depth must be recommended to the drainage authority. The drainage
authority may accept the joint recommendation and proceed with the repair.
    Subd. 3. Repair of town ditches. The town board has the power of a drainage authority to
repair a town drainage system located within the town.
    Subd. 4. Bridges and culverts. (a) Highway bridges and culverts constructed on a drainage
system established on or after March 25, 1947, must be maintained by the road authority charged
with the duty of maintenance under section 103E.525.
(b) Private bridges or culverts constructed as a part of a drainage system established by
proceedings that began on or after March 25, 1947, must be maintained by the drainage authority
as part of the drainage system. Private bridges or culverts constructed as a part of a drainage system
established by proceedings that began before March 25, 1947, may be maintained, repaired, or
rebuilt and any portion paid for as part of the drainage system by the drainage authority.
(c) For a repair of a drainage system that has had redetermination of benefits under section
103E.351, the drainage authority may repair or rebuild existing bridges or culverts on town and
home rule charter and statutory city roads constructed as part of the drainage system and any
portion of the cost may be paid by the drainage system.
    Subd. 5. Construction of road instead of bridge or culvert. In a repair proceeding under
sections 103E.701 to 103E.745, if the drainage authority finds that constructing a private road is
more cost-effective or practical than constructing a bridge or culvert, a drainage authority may
order a private road to be constructed under section 103E.526, instead of a bridge or culvert.
    Subd. 5a. Compensation to landowners instead of bridge or culvert repair. In a repair
proceeding under sections 103E.701 to 103E.745, if the drainage authority finds that repairs to a
private bridge or culvert are more expensive than compensation to landowners for permanent
removal of the bridge or culvert, the drainage authority may order an amount of compensation to
be paid to all landowners directly benefiting from the bridge or culvert, provided that:
(1) all landowners directly benefiting from the bridge or culvert provide written consent for
permanent removal of the bridge or culvert;
(2) all landowners directly benefiting from the bridge or culvert agree in writing to
permanently waive any right to repair or reconstruction of the bridge or culvert; and
(3) the compensation and cost of removing the bridge or culvert is less than the cost of
repair of the bridge or culvert.
    Subd. 6. Wetland restoration and mitigation. Repair of a drainage system may include
the preservation, restoration, or enhancement of wetlands; wetland replacement under section
103G.222; and the realignment of a drainage system to prevent drainage of a wetland.
    Subd. 7. Restoration; disturbance or destruction by repair. If a drainage system repair
disturbs or destroys a perennial vegetative cover or structural practice existing under a federal or
state conservation program adjacent to the permanent drainage system right-of-way, the practice
must be restored according to the applicable practice plan or as determined by the drainage
authority, if a practice plan is not available. Restoration costs shall be paid by the drainage system.
History: 1990 c 391 art 5 s 90; 1991 c 354 art 10 s 2; 1993 c 175 s 1; 1996 c 462 s 4;
2003 c 84 s 1; 2007 c 57 art 1 s 114