Minn. R. agency 175, ch. 8910, pt. 8910.0400
The railroad interest shall notify the leaseholder when it intends to sell a parcel that includes the leasehold. Notice must include the railroad interest's offering price for the parcel, a description of the parcel being offered, and the following statement: "You have a right of first refusal to purchase the subject property under Minnesota Statutes, sections 222.631 to 222.633. For more information, you may write or call the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation." The statement must also contain the address and telephone number of the commissioner. The railroad interest is prohibited from accepting offers to purchase the parcel unless the offer is contingent on the leaseholders' rights of first refusal. The leaseholder has 15 days from receipt of notification to challenge the reasonableness of the packaging of the parcel for sale. The challenge must be served in writing on the commissioner within 15 days. A copy of the challenge must be served on the railroad interest.
If the railroad interest receives a bona fide offer for a parcel, it shall notify all leaseholders affected of the amount of the bona fide offer and of the parcel for which a bona fide offer exists. In addition, the notice must contain the following statement: "You have a right of first refusal to purchase the subject property under Minnesota Statutes, sections 222.631 to 222.633. For more information, you may write or call the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation." The statement must also contain the address and telephone number of the commissioner. The leaseholder has 15 days from receipt of notification to challenge the bona fide nature of the offer or to challenge the reasonableness of the packaging of the parcel for which the offer exists, or both. The challenge must be served in writing on the commissioner within 15 days. A copy must be served on the railroad interest. The railroad interest shall then immediately serve upon the commissioner a copy of the bona fide offer. The contents of a bona fide offer must be treated as trade secret information under Minnesota Statutes, section 13.37, upon the filing by the data suppliers of the request accompanied by supporting affidavits.
If there is a challenge, the commissioner will, within 60 days of the original notice by the commissioner or railroad interest, issue an order approving or rejecting the railroad interest's packaging of the parcel or bona fide offer, or both. The commissioner shall establish whether the bona fide offer is legitimate based on the following criteria:
When a parcel offered for sale by the railroad interest affects more than one leaseholder, the affected leaseholders may make a joint offer or may choose to bid independently for acquisition of the entire parcel offered for sale. The railroad interest may choose which is the most acceptable offer or withdraw the parcel from sale.
A leaseholder has 90 days to negotiate with the railroad and complete the acquisition of the parcel after the ruling by the commissioner on any challenges.
In the case of an offer to sell when a bona fide offer has not been received, the leaseholder may elect within the first 30 days to secure and submit an independent appraisal to the commissioner and the railroad interest. The railroad interest shall then have 30 days to accept the counter offer of the leaseholder, negotiate an agreement with the leaseholder, or to secure its own independent appraisal which it shall then submit to the leaseholder and the commissioner.
If each of the two appraisals submitted to the commissioner is within five percent of their average, the price established by the commissioner must be the average of the two appraisals. If the variance is greater than five percent of the average price, either the leaseholder or the railroad interest may request the commissioner to choose a third appraiser, the costs of which must be split equally between the leaseholder and the railroad interest. The third appraiser shall report within 30 days to the commissioner, railroad interest, and leaseholder. If an agreement cannot be reached by the 90th day of the negotiation period, a notice of dispute may be filed with the commissioner. Within 30 days after filing of the notice of dispute, the commissioner shall issue an order establishing the purchase price.
If either party declines to enter into an agreement based on the commissioner's order, the party shall forfeit its right under this chapter; that is, the leaseholder forfeits the right of first refusal if the leaseholder withdraws. The railroad remains under an obligation to offer the right of first refusal.
Timelines established under this chapter may be varied by the commissioner in accordance with the commissioner's rules on variances.
Minn. R. agency 175, ch. 8910, pt. 8910.0400
Statutory Authority: MS s 222.631 to 222.633