Over resident protests, county declines deeper environmental review
Steele County commissioners moved the contentious East Side Corridor (ESC) project another step forward last week, determining that the project does not require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The decision came after months of public comment at meetings and through an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) process triggered by the size of the road, which will serve as a north-south collector for Owatonna.
Residents in the North Country neighborhood and others oppose the preferred alignment, 29th Avenue from SE 18th Street to Kenyon Road. The project includes a bridge over Maple Creek and realignment of Claremont Road.
Public comment during Tuesday’s board meeting included many issues previously raised: lack of attention to an alternate route, public safety and noise concerns, lack of transparency, and impacts to farmland. Residents said responses to deficiencies noted in EAW comments were incomplete.
Jeanne Pichner made an emotional plea for her farm, now in its fifth generation of family ownership.
“It’s not just acreage on a map. It’s our livelihood, our home and our history,” she said, adding that additions to the plan, including multi-use trails and curb and gutter, are permanent and will affect future land use. The EAW, she said, did not take into account the full impact on farmland.
Potential conflicts
Matt Sennott, a leader with the opposition group, urged officials not to move forward without addressing conflict of interest issues.
In an email sent to the county and provided to the Times, the group noted information on four potential conflicts.
They said Commissioners Jim Abbe and John Glynn both have interest in the Majestic Oaks development, which would see reduced “traffic, noise, and safety impacts” from changes to Kenyon Road.
As a higher level employee of Owatonna Public Utilities (OPU), they said, Commissioner Josh Prokopec has a conflict related to OPU’s “ESC-related utility coordination, infrastructure planning, and land acquisition.”
Finally, the group cited charges that Commissioner James Brady faced in 2018 of “holding an impermissible interest in county road construction contracts after voting on roadway projects from which you allegedly benefited through ownership interests and subcontracting relationships.” Brady eventually entered an Alford plea, which is not an admission of guilt but acknowledges that a jury would likely find the defendant guilty. He paid a $295 fine.
Prior to the public comment period during Tuesday’s meeting, County Attorney Rob Jarrett said he had reviewed the information and found none of the commissioners had a direct conflict of interest as defined by Minnesota law.
Only one commenter spoke in favor of the ESC project.
Brad Meier, who is a resident in the proposed corridor and Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, said the Chamber board of directors had reviewed the project several times “and has taken a formal position of support.”
“The Chamber views this corridor as an important step forward in the continued growth of our community,” he said, which will improve mobility for residents, businesses and visitors.
Review comments
In an overview of the environmental review process, Sam Ketchum, consulting attorney with Kennedy & Graven, said the county organized opportunities for public comment “over and above” what is required for the process. The county received comments from the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation, Dept. of Natural Resources, the City of Owatonna, the ESC neighborhood group, and 67 individuals, some providing multiple comments.
The document listing all of the comments and responses runs more than 1,000 pages.
“It is a large amount of comments for a project of this type,” Ketchum said.
While acknowledging the feedback, Brady said officials would face opposition no matter where they put the corridor.
Abbe noted that he had heard from some residents of the North Country neighborhood who want the road and “think it makes sense.”
“I look at this as being in the best interests of all the people we represent,” he said. “Through a fiscal lens… continuing to kick the can down the road (with the EIS) is only going to prolong this project and add costs to it.”