Agenda - Public Works Committee - 05/16/2000

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PW CASE UPDATE ON 153m~/155x" AVENUE EXTENSION By: Steven Jankowski, City Engineer Background: Improvement Project #99-51 is the extension of the 153rd/155th Avenue corridor from 155th Avenue and Variolite to the 153''d Avenue and Armstrong Boulevard. This 0.7 mile stretch of roadway is the last remaining segment of a cross-city east/west MSA roadway corridor of over six miles. Plans and specifications have been updated and are ready for bidding. The project is scheduled for completion in 2000. The last remaining issue to be resolved is acquisition of the right-of-way. Attached are two sheets illustrating eight parcels, which need to be acquired to facilitate this project. (Parcel one is not an acquisition, but rather is a surplus piece of property that would be created from the relocation of the 153rd Avenue alignment). At the time of this writing we have acquired parcels five and six from D.A. Smith and parcel eight from Richard Andrus. There is also a verbal commitment from Henry Hanson for the temporary easement associated with parcel nine. We are awaiting the completion of documents and for his signature. This leaves four parcels that need to be acquired. Parcel two, owned by Jeff Schroeder, has an appraisal value of $100. It is a very small parcel, less than 500 square feet. The project could actually be constructed without this parcel, however, after completion of the roadway, there would only be three to four feet from the back of the curb- line to the property line. The right-of-way would also have an irregular width in this area. The property owner has informed our negotiator that he wants to have nothing to do with this project. Parcel three is owned by M. Thomas Auel. The property has been appraised at $4,400. We have met with Mr. Auel and he has indicated that he thought the property was worth $10,000, although he declined to get an independent appraisal at the City expense. We have extended a second offer to Mr. Auel for $6,000, which was arrived at by increasing the appraisal price by 25% plus paying the $500 for the appraisal that he is entitled to at City expense. Mr. Auel has not responded to this counter offer. Parcel seven is owned by Lowell Vasseur. Although the parcel necessary for the roadway is listed on the plans at 3.899 acres of permanent and temporary easements, the City is acquiring the entire 40.59 acre parcel since the vast majority of this forty-five acre parcel is wetland. The parcel has been appraised and offered for purchase in the amount of $48,000. In meeting with Mr. Vasseur, he pointed out that the southern portion of the forty acres had some highland, which was not credited in the appraisal. The appraisal also neglected the value of a one rod strip of land from the northwestern comer of the property to County Road #83. Staff has asked the