Bemidji vs. Bemidji in court battle over land rights
The city and township of Bemidji, Minn., have been locked in a legal battle for land, property taxes and zoning authority for nearly three years. Now, an appellate court judge has ruled the battle will continue.
The city of Bemidji reached an orderly annexation agreement with Bemidji and Northern townships 10 years ago. They planned the city's expansion, drafting a timeline for which pieces of township land would be absorbed into the city each year.
They also formed a joint planning board in charge of zoning across the larger Bemidji region.
But in 2012, Bemidji Township leaders decided they wanted to hold on to township land. They wanted their planning authority back, so they sued the city.
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That suit was settled out of court, with the city delaying annexation of some township land. Then last year Bemidji Township filed another lawsuit against the city, Northern Township and the Greater Bemidji Joint Planning Board in an attempt to reclaim zoning authority and more than $50,000 in lost property tax revenue.
When that suit was dismissed last month, Jim Thompson, an attorney for the city, thought the long court battle would be over. But Monday an appeal was affirmed by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
"It was very disappointing," he said. "We thought this would be over."
Next the case is bound for another round in trial court.