HF17 Summary

• Establishes the Central Iron Range Sanitary Sewer District in St. Louis County, authorized to be formed by two or more municipalities (Buhl, Chisholm, Hibbing, Kinney, Balkan, and Great Scott), with the district operating as a public corporation and political subdivision of Minnesota.

• Creates an 11-member board of directors composed of representatives appointed by member municipalities, with specific seat allocations: four from Hibbing, three from Chisholm, two from Buhl, one from Kinney, one township resident, and one representative from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board.

• Grants the board comprehensive powers to collect, treat, and dispose of sewage through construction and operation of interceptors and treatment works, issue general obligation bonds, levy taxes, and impose special assessments on benefited properties.

• Requires the board to adopt a comprehensive plan for sewage collection and disposal subject to St. Louis County planning and zoning authority, conduct public hearings on proposed projects with at least 45 days' notice, and follow specific procedures for project authorization and cost allocation.

• Makes the act retroactively effective from December 27, 2003, and exempts district-owned property from state and local taxation while subjecting it to special assessments for local improvements.