North Dakota Ag Connection - Legislation Enables Patterson, Jamestown Homeowners to Buy Lots

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Legislation Enables Patterson, Jamestown Homeowners to Buy Lots
North Dakota Ag Connection - 11/15/2018

Senator John Hoeven and Congressman Kevin Cramer Wednesday announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has approved S.440 and S. 2074, legislation Senator Hoeven introduced to enable homeowners around Patterson Lake and the Jamestown Reservoir to purchase their lots. The Senate passed the legislation in October, however the House of Representatives amended the legislation so it will now go back to the Senate for additional consideration. Congressman Cramer introduced companion bills in the House of Representatives.

Specifically, the bills transfer lots at Patterson Lake to the Dickinson Parks and Recreation Department and land around the Jamestown Reservoir to the Stutsman County Park Board. Homeowners will then have the opportunity to purchase their land from these local entities.

"We've worked with the homeowner associations as well as local, state and federal officials in Dickinson and Jamestown to advance legislation that provides homeowners at Patterson Lake and the Jamestown Reservoir with the ability to purchase the land that they have developed and made their homes," said Hoeven. "The House has now passed the bills for both Jamestown and Dickinson, but because they amended the bills, the legislation will need to come back to the Senate for further consideration and we'll need to pass them again. This is another step in the process, but there's more work to do."

"I am pleased to work with Senator Hoeven, the Patterson Lake Homeowners Association, and the Jamestown Reservoir Cabin Owners Association to put this land into the hands of local owners where it belongs," said Cramer. "I appreciate the House Natural Resources Committee favorably reporting my companion bills early this year and I look forward to these bills reaching the President this Congress to be enacted into law."

Hoeven introduced S.440, legislation to transfer lots at Patterson Lake in February 2017. Specifically, the legislation:

- Transfers 41 cabin lots, and additional recreation and wildlife management lands, to the Dickinson Parks and Recreation Department. It also transfers a parcel of land, currently being leased, to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

- Directs that proceeds exceeding the costs of preparing residential lots for sale be used for administrative costs and deferred maintenance of the dam. The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) would continue to maintain responsibility over the reservoir and dam.

After working with homeowners and local officials in Jamestown, Hoeven introduced S. 2074 in the Senate in November 2017. The Jamestown Reservoir legislation:

- Permanently transfers federal lands around Jamestown Reservoir -- including 71 permitted exclusive use cabin lots, two campgrounds, a park and unpurchased lots -- to the Stutsman County Park Board and the North Dakota Game and Fish at no cost.

- Directs that proceeds exceeding the costs of preparing residential lots for sale be used for administrative costs and deferred maintenance of the dam. The BOR would continue to maintain responsibility over the reservoir and dam.

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