Page 6 - OGC Annual Report 2024

6
University of Minnesota Office of the General Counsel
Future of Advanced Agriculture Research in Minnesota (FAARM)
OGC has assisted in the
acquisition of approximately
1,369 acres of farmland in
Udolpho Township, Mower
County, Minnesota, for the
University’s development of an
advanced agricultural research
complex. The project has
concluded the pre-design phase,
with exploration of conceptual
site plans for FAARM’s various
program elements and will
serve as a state-of-the-art
teaching and research facility to
advance the health intersections
among people, animals, crops,
and the environment. The
pre-design analysis will guide
decisions for additional land acquisition, initially estimated at 1,600 acres. OGC has assisted
with title issues, closing documentation, and leases of the acquired land, as well as initial planning
communications with local government authorities.
Sale of 280 Acres of University’s UMore Park Land
OGC assisted with
the negotiation and
preparation of a purchase
and sale agreement for
approximately 280 acres
of its UMore Park land
located in Rosemount,
Minnesota, together with
related roadway, utility, and
construction agreements
to facilitate the purchaser’s
development of the
property. The purchaser is
Jimnist LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company,
whose parent company is
Meta Platforms, Inc., which
is constructing a $700
million data center on the property. The University received $39.7 million for the property, the sale of
which closed on December 29, 2023.
“The Office of Human
Resources (OHR) works in close
partnership with the Office
of General Counsel (OGC)
on a spectrum of important
employment matters that
enhance the faculty, staff and
student employee experience at
the University, allowing them
to feel safe and supported in
the workplace. Fairness, equity,
inclusion and respect in all areas
of the employment experience
– labor and employee relations,
compensation, benefits, hiring
and selection, performance
management, career
development, and leadership
and employee training – are
directly impacted by the
decisions that the University
makes. OGC serves as a trusted
partner as we collaborate on
federal and state regulation
changes, new legislation,
and complex legal decisions.
This partnership allows the
University to proactively
develop a plan of action as
required by law, with the
parallel consideration of how
any changes will continue
to support and protect our
employees and the University of
Minnesota.”
- Ken Horstman
Vice President for Human Resources
FAARM: ~1,369 Acres Acquired