Lost PDR grant draws fears program is over

Posted 5/9/01

Lost PDR grant draws fears program is over

By MaryHelen Swanson

The county, said the commissioners last week, simply ran out of time to complete the purchase of development rights (PDR) for even one parcel through a pilot project that was funded with an LCMR (Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources) grant in the amount of $150,000, to which the county had added its own $150,000.
Washington County is part of the pilot project also.

Citizens at the county board meeting last week were upset to learn that the county had just given its grant money to Washington Co. because of failed timelines, especially the people who had recently applied through the PDR program to put their land in the program.

To citizen fears that the program is being scrapped, Comm. Bob Vande Kamp said untrue. He said it was prudent of Chisago Co. to give its grant money to Washington Co., which is more advanced in its PDR program.
That decision, it was learned, had been made on April 29, by staff, on the advice of the county attorney, to give the grant money to Washington Co. so the money would not be lost.

While the commissioners tried to give reasons why the timeline slipped away (the purchase had to be completed by June 30, including an appraisal and all the paperwork), the ìblameî for the delay just went round and round. It seems lumping the PDR study in with the transfer of development rights (TDR) study, was one cause for delay. Comm. Tom Delaney, accepting the blame for not pulling PDR out of the TDR/PDR study a year ago, defended county staff who made the decision to give up the grant when it became apparent the county would not be able to use it within the time constraints.

Comm. Ben Montzka, however, was very upset that giving Washington Co. the money was not done by a full board decision. He said this would never happen in the private business sector. Apparently, the $150,000 county match remains earmarked for the program and the board intends to go forward, seeking additional funds.

This was a ìfumbleî said Administrator Jim Thoreen. Then he reminded everyone that the long-term goal is still preservation of land.