Agenda - Council - 03/28/2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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VIII. LAND ACQUISITION REQUIREMENTS When applying for a grant for land acquisition or easement, the application requires a reasonable market estimate. A full appraisal is not required to apply for a grant. If your application is approved for funding to purchase land or an easement, a full appraisal will then be required and must meet USPAP, DNR and Federal FHWA standards and pre-approved prior to purchase in order for the purchase to be eligible for reimbursement. Easements must include a term of no less than 20 years in the purchase agreement. This length of time is not negotiable. Any time length less than 20 years will not be reimbursable. The following is done only if your trail project is awarded a grant and is approved for acquisition or easement purchase: Prior to contacting and hiring a licensed appraiser to conduct an appraisal of the property, you must contact the DNR Lands and Minerals Department, Cindy Nathan, Acquisition and Appraisal Supervisor at 218-283-4408, or cindy.nathan@dnr.state.mn.us to provide assistance. The appraisal will need to be completed to meet USPAP,DNR and FHWA appraisal standards and the DNR must be named as an intended user of the report. If you are acquiring an easement, the appraiser will also need to be provided a final copy of the easement language you plan to acquire. A State Certified General Real Property Appraiser competent to appraise property to Federal Standards must conduct the appraisal. There are a limited number of appraisers that are certified to conduct appraisals to meet the federal standards. Lands and Minerals can provide you a list of appraisers that have indicated that they are competent to complete these appraisals. The requirements are also located on the DNR appraisal management website at http:// www.dnr.state.mn.us/lands minerals/appraisal mgmt.html. Once you have received a completed a land appraisal, it must be submitted to the DNR for appraisal review and approval before the land can be purchased with grant funds. The costs associated with a land appraisal are not eligible for reimbursement through the grant program. Therefore, it is important that the land appraisal be done correctly and with a qualified appraiser, to avoid the additional charges that would result if the appraisal were rejected by the DNR. The DNR review of land appraisals are done at no cost to the grantee. Once the DNR has approved the appraisal, grant funds can be reimbursed towards the cost of the land purchased. Upon the purchase of land it is required to have a"Twenty-Year Easement for Recreational Trail Purposes" at a minimum that must be attached to the deed (this easement must be the same as the easement provided to the appraiser) for the land and submitted deed documentation to be approved for reimbursement. Revised 12/06/2016 Page 14 of 17