Subdivision 1. Hearing on taking; evidentiary standard. (a) Upon proof being filed of the service of such notice, the court, at the time and place therein fixed or to which the hearing may be adjourned, shall hear all competent evidence offered for or against the granting of the petition, regulating the order of proof as it may deem best.
(b) If the taking is for the mitigation of a blighted area, remediation of an environmentally contaminated area, reducing abandoned property, or removing a public nuisance, then, notwithstanding any other provision of general or special law, a condemning authority must show the district court by preponderance of the evidence that the taking is necessary and for the designated public use.
(c) A court order approving the public use or public purpose, necessity, and authority for the taking is final unless an appeal is brought within 60 days after service of the order on the party.
Subd. 2. Appoint commissioners for damages. (a) If the proposed taking shall appear to be necessary and such as is authorized by law, the court by an order shall appoint three disinterested commissioners, and at least two alternates, to ascertain and report the amount of damages that will be sustained by the several owners on account of such taking.
(b) All disinterested commissioners or alternates appointed under this subdivision must reside in Minnesota.
Subd. 3. Commissioner qualifications. The court shall inquire whether each prospective commissioner has any relationship, business or otherwise, to any of the parties in the proceeding, or any interest in the proceeding which may constitute a conflict of interest, or which may create the appearance of impropriety should that person be appointed. Responses to this inquiry must be either written or on the record and made available by the court to any party in the proceeding. No person who might have difficulty in rendering an unbiased decision may be appointed to serve. The court, in its discretion, may appoint one registered, practicing attorney to the commission who is knowledgeable in eminent domain matters. All other commissioners appointed must be persons actively engaged in the occupation of real estate sales or real estate appraising or persons knowledgeable in real estate values.
Subd. 4. First meeting; pay; oath. The order shall fix the time and place of the first meeting of the three commissioners and prescribe their compensation. At the first meeting at the office of the court administrator of district court the appointees must be sworn by the court administrator or an authorized deputy and shall take and sign the following oath before assuming their duties as commissioners:
(TITLE OF PROCEEDING)
................................. does swear under penalty of perjury as follows:
I will faithfully and justly perform to the best of my ability, all the duties of the office and trust which I now assume as commissioner in the above entitled proceeding. I further swear that, except as disclosed in writing or on the record, I have no interest in any of the lands in the above proceeding or any present or past relationship, business or personal, with any of the parties to the above proceeding or any other actual or potential conflict of interest, and that I will render fair and impartial decisions, so help me God.
Subd. 5. Court may limit taker's ownership. The order may, in the discretion of the court, limit the title or easement to be acquired by the petitioner by defining the rights and privileges which the owner of any of the lands may exercise therein in subordination to the public uses to which it is appropriated.
Subd. 6. Replacement commissioner. In case any commissioner fails to act or fails to meet the qualifications required by this section, the court without further notice may appoint another in that commissioner's place.
Subd. 7. Post list of would be commissioners. The court administrator of court in each county shall post in the courthouse in a prominent place a notice that a qualified person may apply to have the person's name placed upon a list of potential commission appointees for eminent domain proceedings. The notice must contain the language of the oath which the commissioners are required to take upon appointment and shall list the other qualifications set forth in this section. The court shall give due consideration to the names appearing on the list, but is not bound to make appointments from the list.
1971 c 595 s 10; 1985 c 299 s 1; 1986 c 444; 1Sp1986 c 3 art 1 s 82; 2002 c 390 s 1; 2006 c 214 s 8; 1Sp2021 c 5 art 4 s 6,7
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 117 - 119 — Eminent Domain; Local Depositories And Investments
Section 117.012 — Preemption; Public Use Or Purpose.
Section 117.016 — Joint Acquisition Of Land.
Section 117.025 — Definitions.
Section 117.027 — Condemnation For Blight Mitigation And Contamination Remediation.
Section 117.031 — Attorney Fees.
Section 117.035 — Proceedings, By Whom Instituted.
Section 117.036 — Appraisal And Negotiation Requirements.
Section 117.041 — Entry For Survey Or Environmental Testing.
Section 117.0412 — Local Government Public Hearing Requirements.
Section 117.043 — Compelling Delivery Of Possession.
Section 117.045 — Compelling Acquisition In Certain Cases.
Section 117.054 — Copies Of Appraisal To Landowner.
Section 117.055 — Petition And Notice.
Section 117.065 — Notices Of Pendency And Abandonment; Required Recordings.
Section 117.075 — Hearing; Commissioners; Order For Taking.
Section 117.085 — Commissioners, Powers, Duties.
Section 117.086 — Noncontiguous Tracts, Treatment As Unit.
Section 117.087 — Prepayment Penalties; Damages.
Section 117.105 — Filing Of Report, Time, Failure To Report.
Section 117.115 — Report, Notice.
Section 117.125 — Deposit In Court.
Section 117.135 — Taxes And Assessments.
Section 117.145 — Appeal: Deadline, Notice, Service, Contents; By Other Parties.
Section 117.155 — Payments; Partial Payment Pending Appeal.
Section 117.165 — Jury Trials; Disclosure.
Section 117.175 — Trial, Burden Of Proof, Costs.
Section 117.184 — Compensation For Removal Of Legal Nonconforming Use.
Section 117.186 — Compensation For Loss Of Going Concern.
Section 117.187 — Minimum Compensation.
Section 117.188 — Limitations.
Section 117.189 — Public Service Corporation Exceptions.
Section 117.195 — Interest; Award, When Payable; Dismissal; Costs.
Section 117.205 — Final Certificate.
Section 117.21 — Easement May Include Snow Fences.
Section 117.215 — Estate Acquired.
Section 117.225 — Easement Discharge.
Section 117.226 — Right Of First Refusal.
Section 117.231 — Payment In Installments.
Section 117.232 — Direct Purchase.
Section 117.38 — Acquisition Of Land For Certain Purposes.
Section 117.39 — Proceedings Under Power Of Eminent Domain.
Section 117.40 — Municipality May Contest.
Section 117.41 — Conveyance, To Whom Made.
Section 117.47 — Permits; Licenses.
Section 117.471 — Easements Over Tax-forfeited Lands, Approval.
Section 117.48 — Crude Oil Pipeline Companies, Eminent Domain.
Section 117.51 — Cooperation With Federal Authorities; Reestablishment Costs Limit.
Section 117.52 — Uniform Relocation Assistance.
Section 117.521 — Waiver Of Relocation Benefits.
Section 117.53 — Authorization.
Section 117.54 — No Additional Damages Created.
Section 117.55 — Payments Not Considered For Public Assistance Purposes.
Section 117.56 — Inapplicability To Hazardous And Substandard Building Proceedings.