Departments » Planning & Neighborhood Services » Planning & Zoning » Annexation Resources
Oakport Tract 2
Tract 2 of Oakport Township was annexed to the City of Moorhead on January 1, 2015.
Transition Information for Oakport Tract 2 Residents
The City website has a host of information for all residents. You can receive information specific to the Tract 2 annexation transition by signing up for e-Notification (select Oakport Annexation) to get the most timely updates. While you're at it, sign up for service alerts and other topics, too. The most up to date information is included in the FAQ below.
Archives:
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ was last updated on February 10, 2015 and may be updated as additional questions are received. If you have a question that is not addressed here, please contact us; your neighbors may have a similar question.
Expand/Contract Questions and Answers
- Oakport residents who have street light are still paying streetlight fees on their Red River Valley Coop and Xcel Energy bills. Will that change?Oakport properties annexed to the City of Moorhead will continue to pay applicable Red River Valley Cooperative or Xcel Energy street light fees until the electric territory utility transfer/buyout by Moorhead Public Service is complete. At that time, Oakport properties will be charged the same Street Light Utility Fee as other Moorhead residents pay. Oakport residents will not pay the City of Moorhead Street Light Utility Fee until the transfer is complete. The City of Moorhead Street Light Utility fee finances the cost of operating and maintaining all street lights citywide. This fee is not based on the number of street lights on or near your property, but similar to fees for Pest and Forestry services, the program is structured to provide street lights citywide for the benefit of the entire community. Single family homes, multifamily apartments, and businesses pay for street lights according to the approved City of Moorhead fee schedule.
- This map details ward and precinct boundaries and polling locations for City of Moorhead residents. The Elections webpage includes additional voting information and resources.
- No. Your current CodeRed registration will automatically be associated with the City of Moorhead.
Garbage is collected in Oakport weekly on Tuesdays and recycling is collected alternating Tuesdays (Recycling Week B). If you have questions about sanitation services, containers, or transition details, please contact the Sanitation Division.
The City of Moorhead, in partnership with the Cass County Vector Control office, will provide mosquito control services to Oakport Tract 2. Services provided include:
- Trap collection and sampling
- Larval treatment in water to kill mosquito larvae before they mature
- Truck-mounted ULV fogging
- Aerial spraying in conjunction with the City of Fargo
The City of Moorhead will contract with a private snow removal company to clear the Oakport Tract 2 streets.
Yes. Seasonal curbside collection of yard waste and branches will also be available as in other areas of the City.
- The City of Moorhead does have a policy to assist with cost participation or voluntary special assessments in the event of a sewer line break or collapse. The type of assistance available depends on the location of the damaged sewer pipe (public or private property). Please note, qualifying repairs will not be reimbursed retroactively. Your first step should be to contact the wastewater division by phone at 218.299.5386 or email.
The City does conduct code enforcement for weeds and mowing violations. If you notice a property in Moorhead that has tall grass or noxious weeds and are not comfortable speaking to the property owner directly, please make a report or call the Neighborhood Services Division at 218.299.5434. Your name will not be released to the property owner.
- Sign up for e-Notification (Oakport Annexation) for updates. You can expect more information on the electrical system buyout, streetlights and several other issues as new information is available.
Moorhead Public Service (MPS) must buy the electric service territory from the existing providers, Xcel Energy and Red River Valley Cooperative Power Association. On January 13, 2015, the Moorhead Public Service Commission formally confirmed its intent to acquire the electric service territory in Oakport, notified the existing utilities, and requested that formal negotiations begin. MPS expects negotiations to commence in earnest now that the annexation of Tract 2 of Oakport has been completed. Conversion of the current electric system to the MPS electric system will occur once settlements are reached with these existing utilities. It is possible the conversion may not occur until the construction season of 2016 or beyond. When the conversion occurs, Oakport residents will receive MPS electric service and MPS rates. Sign up for e-Notification (Oakport Annexation) for updates as they become available.
As outlined in the Orderly Annexation Agreement, the cost of the buyout (and the associated bond interest expenses) will be financed through a surcharge on new Tract 2 MPS customers. The cost of the buyout is unknown at this time; it will be negotiated by the utility companies. The surcharge rate is defined in the Orderly Annexation Agreement as one-half of the per kWh rate difference between MPS and your current electric provider. For example, if your current electric provider charges you $0.12/kWh and the MPS rate is $0.10/kWh the Tract 2 customer will pay $0.11/kWh until the buyout expenses are recouped. As rates between the current electric utilities and MPS change, the surcharge will be adjusted; however, at no time after the buyout will a Tract 2 resident pay more for electricity than they would have with their previous electric utility supplier. Once the buyout expenses are recouped, Tract 2 rates will be the same as in the rest of the City of Moorhead.
Only Tract 2 residents who are upgrading or relocating an existing service will be required to relocate an interior meter to the outside of the house. Following acquisition of the electric service territory, MPS will be replacing existing meters with MPS meters at no charge (by appointment if the meter is located inside the home). There is a monthly service charge for secondary/additional service meters as necessary for dual fuel systems or other purposes (currently $2.00/month for each meter). Please note that residents with off peak or dual fuel systems are responsible to bring their systems into compliance with the MPS dual fuel program standards to receive the Moorhead dual fuel rates.
- No.
Following acquisition of the electric service territory, the City and Moorhead Public Service (MPS) will hold future public input opportunities regarding street lights in the Tract 2 area. At this time, there are no additional street lights planned within the Tract 2 area. Residents may request placement of new street lights by submitting a street light request form.
No. The Moorhead Fire Department has the capacity to provide timely fire response to the Oakport area. As Moorhead grows, the City will continue to evaluate public safety needs to serve the community.
Existing roads will be maintained through a joint agreement of Clay County and the City of Moorhead Public Works Department. The City of Moorhead Engineering Department conducts ongoing, long range planning for transportation issues. The transportation needs in Oakport will be part of the next citywide planning process (2015 - 2019).
- Maybe. One Tract 2 resident reports a sizeable difference in premium with his company because the Moorhead Fire Station is closer to his home than the Dilworth Fire Station. Some insurance companies do provide premium discounts based on whether a home is protected by a full-time fire department like Moorhead’s instead of a volunteer department or the distance from the nearest fire station. You are encouraged to contact your insurance agent to see whether you are eligible for a premium change now that the annexation is complete.
The City of Moorhead Engineering Department will continue to advance flood control to minimize flood risk in Oakport and the rest of the City of Moorhead by:
- Analyzing alternatives
- Estimating costs, funding sources, and allocation of costs
- Gathering public input
- Making recommendations to the City Council
Moorhead’s Engineering Department will evaluate pending projects and support projects that meet the community’s flood mitigation goals.
- This levee is under the jurisdiction of the Buffalo Red River Watershed District. The Watershed would be the entity that would pursue accreditation.
Not at this time. The levees will continue under the jurisdiction of the Buffalo Red River Watershed District. All properties within the BRRWD pay a general administration tax based on their property value/tax capacity. BRRWD charges a special assessment to properties benefiting from projects such as the Oakport levee project or a ditch project. In addition, Oakport residents that are within the Oakport Levee project area are charged a levee maintenance fee on their tax statement; this levee maintenance fee will continue to apply to benefiting properties while the infrastructure is maintained by the BRRWD.
- Yes. Just as it is now, burning of yard waste is allowed in some circumstances on half-acre or larger lots. Instead of getting a permit from the Dilworth Fire Department, simply get a no-cost permit from the Moorhead Fire Department so the Department is aware of open burning activities.
- No. For future subdivisions, sidewalks will be reviewed during the platting process.
- No. Existing gravel driveways are not required to be improved with asphalt or concrete.
- Yes. Subdivision are regulated by Moorhead subdivision standards and guided by the North Moorhead/Oakport Township Future Land Use Map.
- No. The City will not maintain private roads but will maintain all public roads in Tract 2 unless they are maintained by another public jurisdiction such as MnDOT or Clay County. City Public Works Department equipment or a private contractor may also be used.
- Brentwood Park has been transferred to the City of Moorhead and will be maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department. MB Johnson Park is also nearby, and there is additional land dedicated for parks in Crystal Creek and North Crystal Creek subdivisions. The Moorhead Park Advisory Board and Planning Commission work with neighborhoods and developments throughout Moorhead under an ongoing Capital Improvement Plan for parks locations and facility improvements.
- Yes. Two new emergency warning sirens are planned for the Tract 2 area. Final locations are under review and the sirens are anticipated to be placed in 2015.
- Snowmobiles can be used on private property and dedicated snowmobile routes have been established along specific county and local roads.
Class 2 ATVs are allowed on shoulder areas of improved roadways (not state trunk highways – state law).
You may have no more than 3 dogs and/or 3 cats over six months of age (3 pets total). There is an exception to this limit, you may request a permit from the police department to have an additional 2 dogs or cats as part of a qualified home associated with an organization for rescue or sheltering of abandoned or lost animals. Time limits and additional requirements do apply. Animal control is included in Title 3 Chapter 7 of the Moorhead City Code.
- Dogs and cats do need to be licensed annually. You will need to provide current rabies vaccination information from your veterinarian. You can license your pet online or in person at the Police Department.
- Hunting is allowed on private property and on public property with these restrictions:
- Hunters must have proper Minnesota license in possession and follow all carry and transport laws for weapons.
- Hunter must obtain permission of the private property owner and/or Buffalo Red River Watershed Board if using their land.
- Firearms
- Shotgun only for deer with slug (single projectile) from elevated stand of 5 feet.
- Waterfowl and Turkey hunting from ground level is acceptable within normal state restrictions.
- Must be at least 500 feet from any human occupied buildings, public right of way, or livestock unless hunter has written permission of land owner.
- Archery
- Ground level hunting is acceptable within normal state restrictions.
- Must be at least 200 feet away from human occupied buildings, public right of way, or livestock unless hunter has written permission of land owner.
- Target practice is allowed
- Must be 200 feet from any buildings not owned by target shooter unless has written permission from landowner.
- A suitable back stop is required.
- Can be inside a building with a suitable backstop.
- Firearms
- Hunters must remove field dressing entrails on public lands and within 200 feet of property lines if on private lands in order not to attract predators and to avoid unsightliness.
Oakport will receive the same level of quality service currently provided to the City of Moorhead. Our annual mosquito control program consists of an active larvicide program and aerial spraying. The City of Moorhead will aerial spray in concert with the City of Fargo. Public notification will be made prior to aerial spraying.
Clay County Environmental Programs offers free removal of junked or unused cars and trucks. For additional information, contact Clay County Solid Waste at 218.299.7329 or ccsw@co.clay.mn.us.
- Homeowners continue to be responsible to mow ditches abutting their property. Buffalo Red River Watershed District will continue maintenance of Ditch 67 (along north side of McCann’s Addition/south of Wall Street) as well as the ditches along the levee.
Most code enforcement work is conducted on a complaint basis. The City’s regulations aren’t very different from the Township’s, both jurisdictions have similar “nuisance” ordinances. The City of Moorhead also adopted the International Property Maintenance Code in 2004. When that code was adopted, most neighborhoods did not experience any major change, but complaints are now addressed more effectively. The City has the authority to abate some nuisance conditions and charge penalties for unattended violations. The City has two full-time code compliance technicians with capacity to address the additional service territory.
Monthly forestry fees cover:
- Planting and replacement of trees throughout the city in new and existing neighborhoods on boulevards, rights-of-way, and city parks
- Dutch Elm Disease Program: monitoring public and private lots (including the river corridor), removal of diseased elms and risk trees from boulevards and parks
- Seasonal curbside branch collection and Christmas tree collection
- Cyclical boulevard tree trimming
- Storm response to clear streets and sidewalks
- Consultation with the City Forester
Pest control fees cover animal and mosquito control and right-of-way maintenance.
- All City of Moorhead residents pay a monthly stormwater charge (currently $10.21 collected on the MPS utility billings) to manage the runoff from rain and snow melt. The cost covers the operation and maintenance of the stormwater system located in the public rights of way. The stormwater system includes catchbasins, manholes, storm sewers, public ditches, public culverts, stormwater ponds, and stormwater pumps stations which exist to varying degrees in both the City and Oakport.
- The Oakport property I own has a recorded Conditional Use Permit allowing horses. Does the annexation impact the Conditional Use Permit?No. If your property has a recorded Conditional Use Permit (CUP) allowing horses, the CUP will continue to apply. Furthermore, if the property is sold, the CUP will apply to future owners.
- Both Cable One and Midcontinent Communications services will continue to be available. The providers have noted that they will provide information on any programming changes to the City to pass along to residents through e-Notification.