Wetlands, habitat easements approved by OTC

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent 

County commissioners, on Feb. 13, passed a resolution in support of Clay County (Moorhead area) pursuing the possibility of establishing a new psychiatric residential treatment facility. This plan is only in the preliminary stages.

Current facilities are in operation in the Twin Cities, Duluth, near St. Cloud and near Mankato. The Regional Treatment Center in Fergus Falls closed several years ago.

“Clay County is looking at either building a new facility or remodeling an existing structure. Plans are to pursue bonding money through the 2025 Minnesota State Legislature,” said Otter Tail County Human Services Director Deb Sjostrom to county commissioners.

County Board member Lee Rogness of Fergus Falls said that he and fellow commissioners should continue to support local mental health providers in Otter Tail County, in addition to supporting Clay County with its plans for establishing a new psychiatric residential treatment facility.

Wetlands, habitat easements approved

Otter Tail County commissioners, meeting Feb. 13 with representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, approved six wetland easements and one habitat easement.

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and governmental agency that restricts development on a piece of property in future years. 

Contracts may prohibit alteration of the natural topography, conversion of native grasslands to cropland, drainage of wetlands and establishment of game farms.