Mpls. Park Board Attorney Doubts State Authority to Change Lake Calhoun Name

The following article by Steve Brandt was published in the August 29, 2015 issue of the StarTribune.

Mpls. Park Board Attorney Doubts State Authority to Change Lake Calhoun Name

 

Legislature would have to act on change, parks lawyer says.

 

The behind-the-scenes legal wrangling over possibly renaming Lake Calhoun took another turn Friday when a new legal opinion for Minneapolis park commissioners said a change would require legislative action.

Attorney Brian Rice said in an opinion for next week’s Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board meeting that he doubts state law allows the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to change a lake name after 40 years, which contradicts another legal memo saying that DNR staff believes the agency can rename the lake.

Rice said he doubts a DNR change would stand up in court.

 

To continue reading, click on the link to the StarTribune

http://www.startribune.com/park-board-attorney-doubts-state-authority-to-change-calhoun-name/323287631/