02.21.17

Hoeven Legislation Will Enable Homeowners to Purchase Their Lots at Patterson Lake

Also Transfers All Federal Lands Managed by Dickinson Parks and Recreation to Park Department

DICKINSON, N.D. – At a meeting of the Patterson Lake Homeowners Association, Senator John Hoeven today outlined legislation he introduced last week that will enable homeowners to purchase their lots at Patterson Lake from the federal government. The measure also transfers ownership of all federal lands managed by the Dickinson Parks and Recreation Department to the Parks Department, including several holes at the Heart River Golf Course. The legislation would transfer ownership of all federal lands around Patterson Lake to private and local public ownership.

“These house lots and recreational lands have been developed and maintained by homeowners and the Dickinson Parks and Recreation Department for generations,” Hoeven said. “It’s long past time that they be able to fully enjoy their homes and property and be recognized as a true residential community.” 

The legislation grew out of a number of meetings Hoeven and his staff held with the Patterson Lake Homeowners Association and Park Board officials, as well as other stakeholders in the community to get input on how to proceed with legislation. 

Hoeven’s Patterson Lake Standalone Bill:

The Hoeven legislation will:

·        Provide a mechanism for the homeowners to purchase their lots at Patterson Lake from the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)

·        Transfer all other lands currently managed by the Dickinson Park & Recreation Department to the Park Department, at no cost, 2 years after the date of enactment of the bill 

·        Provide for the transfer of all unpurchased residential lots to the Park Department, at no cost, 2 years after the date of enactment of the bill

·        Require the BOR to provide legal descriptions of all lands to be sold and transferred

·        Provides that the value of the residential lots be based on a local third party appraiser, valuing the land as unimproved residential property, excluding all improvements

·        Provides that the revenue generated from the sale of the residential lots to be used by the Secretary for carrying out the costs of the act and for ongoing/deferred maintenance of the dam in the Dickinson Reservoir.  The BOR will retain responsibility for the dam and lake.

Hoeven Amendment to the Water Resources Development Act

The Water Resources and Development Act, which Congress Passed in December, included Hoeven legislation that limited fee increases for permittees on Patterson Lake, Lake Tschida, and the Jamestown Reservoir.

The BOR had proposed increasing fees to more than twice the cost of current fees for permits on the three reservoirs; the Hoeven legislation prevents that increase and limits the total fee increase to no more than 33 percent over 5 years.

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