Project Manager
Lori Vanderhider, PE
1000 Highway 10 West
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
218-846-7955
email »

Stakeholder Involvement Plan

Introduction

An effective Stakeholder Involvement Plan is critical to ensure that issues and concerns in the community can be raised and addressed as part of the project development process.  It is important that each group of stakeholders have an opportunity to become informed about the project and provide feedback on the information they receive.  This Plan outlines Mn/DOT’s approach to stakeholder involvement.  Stakeholder involvement is intended to be open, flexible, and subject to change as part of the evolution of the process.  Mn/DOT will make every effort to consider stakeholders’ concerns in developing the design layout and in analysis of environmental effects of the project.

Goals and Objectives for Public Involvement

• Maintain regular contact with stakeholders to educate and inform them about project design and the environmental process
• Provide opportunities for stakeholders to participate and comment on the project
• Understand and respond to stakeholder concerns and consider them in evaluating design options
• Build support for a Preferred Alternative that minimizes impacts and can be implemented in a timely and cost effective manner

Stakeholders and Interested Parties

1. Federal, State and Local Agencies and Officials
• Mn/DOT
• FHWA
• State Representatives
• Congressional representatives
• Otter Tail County:
  • Engineer
  • Planning
• Wadena County
  • Engineer
  • Planning
• Region 5 Development Commission
• West Central Initiative
• City of Wadena
  • City Administrator
  • Planning and Zoning
  • Mayor
  • City Council
  • Planning Commission
  • Parks Commission
  • Airport Authority
  • Wadena Development Authority (WDA)
• Township Representatives
  • Wadena Township
  • Leaf River Township
  • Bluffton Township
2. Regulatory Agencies
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR)
• Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)
• Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
• Wadena Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)
• Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)  
• Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Environmental Services (Mn/DOT OES)
• Others as identified
3. Citizens 
• Affected property owners
• Business/industrial property owners
• Residential and neighborhood groups        
• Institutions
4. Civic Organizations
• Wadena Area Chamber of Commerce
• Business and professional groups
• Wadena County Farm Bureau
5. BNSF Railroad

Outreach Activities

1.  Project Design Approvals/Municipal Consent

• Provide informational presentations on key policy issues to the Policy/Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC), which includes technical staff, local officials and other community representatives.
• Inform stakeholders of project goals, issues and trade-offs that will be balanced in the design and environmental process.  A website, press releases, and press briefings will be used to share information throughout the process.
• Hold public information open houses to display concepts and hear concerns from interested parties.
• Hold public hearing on draft environmental impact statement to solicit comments from interested parties.
• Other briefings to agencies or decision makers

2.  Environmental Approvals

• Obtain comments from regulatory agencies on key resources issues through early coordination letters, individual meetings, PTAC meetings, and document review.
• Facilitate approval of DEIS and FEIS through on-going meetings with Mn/DOT and FHWA to work through key issues as they arise, rather than waiting until submittal of the DEIS.

Timeframe for Stakeholder Involvement Process

An anticipated schedule for Stakeholder Involvement includes the following:

PTAC Meetings

10 meetings scheduled, beginning in June 2006 through Summer 2008

Public Open House Meetings

Two public open houses have already been held for the DEIS phase of the project—one in June 2006, and a second in February 2007. A third public meeting will be held to present layout changes to the public, and a fourth public meeting will be held after publication of the DEIS, in conjunction with the public hearing.

Meeting dates and information will be added to the website as dates are confirmed.

The Project Manager for the Highway 10 Wadena project is:

Project Manager
Lori Vanderhider, PE
1000 Highway 10 West
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
218-846-7955
email »

Go to Top