A Legislative measure authored by Rep. Jim Newberger has won enactment into law, safeguarding the concerns of many Sand Dunes State Forest residents who have battled DNR policies in recent years.

 

Newberger’s legislation, which was finally approved and expected to be signed by Gov. Dayton, will protect several interests regarding future use of the lands and a granted easement of 233rd Avenue to Orrock Twp.

 

Specificially, the bill will:

1) Prohibit conversions of additional land to oak savanna;

 

2) Prohibit conversions of oak savanna to non-forest land, unless it was part of a previous contract before last July;

 

3) If any seeding needs to be done, it can only be from species native to Sherburne or Benton counties;

 

4) The DNR must comply with the Minnesota Forest Resources Council’s guidelines for aesthetics in residential areas;

 

5) A 40-day notice must be given before any prescribed burns. This must be done in the local newspaper and to the township and county in writing and all residents within a quarter mile of the burn must be notified in writing;

 

6) The DNR may continue to manage school trust lands as they have before;

 

7) The DNR must grant the easement of 233rd to Orrock Twp. so they can maintain it.

 

The new law will go into effect July 1st and is good for two years.

 

Newberger said the legislation will not prevent the DNR, county, state or township from cutting trees due to weather-related damage for ditch work.

 

Newberger went to work, crafting the legislation in February after sitting through the last of DNR-SDSF Citizens talk sessions, held over the past year.

 

That evening, he informed the press and DNR officials that significant progress was not made in the talk sessions and he would force them to the table with the above legislation.

 

The following month, Newberger and Sen. Mathews of Milaca authored separate bills in St. Paul. A combined bill passed both houses but was vetoed by Govn. Dayton.

 

A larger policy bill was drafted, the SDSF language was put into the bill and once again, the new leiglsation passed the house and senate. Govn. Dayton then agreed to sign the bill.