Google earth export from DGN is showing up in a different state altogether - Microstation V8i SS3 08.11.09.459

Hello all,

 Microstation V8i SS3 08.11.09.459

I have read the other posts on this topic where users have posted about Google Earth exports from a DGN showing up with a 20-30 ft offset. My issue is similar but the offset is by a few states and not a few feet.

I received a DGN from a colleague and there is not any historical information available about who created it (this is for a project that was shelved for a while). The goal was to export it to a KMZ. In the past, I haven't had any issues with similar exercises with other files. I would set the appropriate GCS using the Geographic toolset and then export it to a KML and it would show up in the correct location.

Similarly, this file did not have a "current" GCS assigned to it when I opened the "Select Geographic Coordinate System" window. So, I chose the "TX83-NCF - NAD83 Texas State Planes, North Central Zone, US Foot" system based on the project's physical location (just south of Athens city limits in Henderson County, TX).

When I export the KML, it shows up in one of the midwest states (Iowa I believe). Here is what I tried doing:

1) Exported the DGN to a shapefile and tried ArcGIS's Unknown Coordinate identification exercise as given here - http://support.esri.com/technical-article/000006217 . I was unable to figure out the original coordinate system that was assigned to the DGN.

2) The NAIP aerials I have for this area are in UTM Zone 15N (meters) coordinate system. SInce the DGN is in US Survey ft, I made a futile attempt at transforming the aerial's coordinate system to the same as the DGN's and manually overlaying  the linework. I wasn't entirely sure about what I was trying to accomplish here!

Could someone please explain what my mistake here is? Eventually, my goal is to export this dgn to a kml and make it show up in  the correct location. Thank you,