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164.07 <br />MINNESOTA STATUTES 2020 2 <br />for the general health and welfare of the public, then the board may cause the road to be vacated with a <br />provision that the town shall retain the right of access for the purpose of maintaining such drainage facilities. <br />An owner of land adjacent to the vacated portion of the road shall not interfere with the functioning of such <br />drainage facilities. <br />Subd. 4. Survey. If the petition be granted, the town board, if it deem it necessary, shall cause a survey <br />to be made. When the center of such road does not follow a section line, or some subdivisional line of a <br />section, the surveyor shall note the distance to the point on any course at which such course will intersect a <br />section line, and the distance of such point of intersection from the most convenient section, quarter -section, <br />or meander corner, as established by the government survey; and the notes of such intersections, and a <br />description of the road so established, altered, or vacated shall be incorporated in an order to be signed by <br />the town board. <br />Subd. 5. Damages. The damages sustained by reason of establishing, altering, or vacating any road may <br />be ascertained by the agreement of the owners and the town board; and unless such agreement is made, or <br />the owners release in writing all claims to damages, the same shall be assessed and awarded before such <br />road is opened, worked, or used. Every agreement and release shall be filed with the town clerk and be final <br />as to the matters therein contained. The town board shall assess the damages of each claimant with whom <br />it cannot agree, or who is unknown, specifying the amount awarded to each and briefly describing each <br />parcel of land. In ascertaining the damages which will be sustained by any owner the town board shall <br />determine the money value of the benefits which the establishment, alteration, or vacation, as the case may <br />be, will confer, and deduct the benefits, if any, from the damages, if any, and award the difference, if any <br />as damages. <br />Subd. 6. Filing of award; notification. The award of damages shall be filed with the town clerk. Within <br />seven days after filing the town clerk shall notify, in writing, each known owner and occupant of each tract <br />of the filing of the award of damages. The notification shall set forth the date of the award, the amount of <br />the award of damages and any terms or conditions of the award. The notification must include a clear and <br />coherent explanation, written in language using words with common and everyday meanings, of the <br />requirements for appealing the award of damages under subdivision 7. <br />Subd. 7. Appeal. Within 40 days after the filing of the award of damages any owner or occupant may <br />appeal from the award by filing a notice of appeal with the court administrator of the district court of the <br />county where the lands lie. However, the owner or occupant must file the notice of appeal within ten days <br />in order to delay the opening, construction, alteration, change, or other improvement in or to the road pursuant <br />to subdivision 10. The notice of appeal shall be accompanied by a bond of not less than $250, with sufficient <br />surety approved by the judge or the county auditor conditioned to pay all costs arising from the appeal in <br />case the award is sustained. A copy of the notice shall be mailed by registered or certified mail to the town <br />clerk or any member of the town board. The notice of appeal shall specify the award or failure to award <br />appealed from, the land to which it relates, the nature and amount of the claim of appellant, and the grounds <br />of the appeal, which may include a challenge to the public purpose or necessity of the proposed road or <br />condemnation. <br />Subd. 8. Trial. The appeal shall be entered upon the calendar for trial at the next general term of the <br />court occurring more than 20 days after the appeal is perfected. It shall be tried in the same manner as an <br />appeal in eminent domain proceedings under chapter 117. The prevailing party shall recover costs and <br />disbursements as in other civil cases and judgment shall be entered upon the verdict. <br />Subd. 9. Payment. If no appeal is taken within the appeal period, the award shall be considered the <br />same as a judgment. The provisions of sections 365.41 and 365.42 shall apply as to payment of all awards <br />Official Publication of the State of Minnesota <br />Revisor of Statutes <br />