Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - The Olmsted County Board has agreed to buy some land that will be used for the Lake Zumbro dredging project at a cost of $8,000 per acre.

The farmland is located along County Road 12 about 1 ½ miles east of the lake and is owned by the Leitzen family, which agreed to sell the 80 acres for $640,000. The land will be used to spread and dewater the muck that will be removed from the lake.

Commissioners Jim Bier and Matt Flynn voted against the purchase. Bier was concerned about the price, saying “We’re overpaying for this land.”

The board was told the long-term plan is to sell the property when it’s no longer needed for the dredging operation.

The county’s purchase will allow the Joint Powers Board that is overseeing the project to spend more money on the actual dredging of the lake instead of buying the land.

As part of the County Board’s action, it also rescinded a 2015 resolution that limited the county’s spending on the dredging project to a maximum of $400,000.

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