Agenda - Public Works Committee - 11/16/2004

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CASE CONSH)ER OFFER TO PURCHASE TRAIL EASEMENT ON GEVING PROPERTY By: Steven Jankowski, City Engineer Background: At the October 19, 2004 Public Works Committee meeting staff reported on the status of obtaining a trail easement over the Geving Property which is located at 15910 St. Francis Boulevard. You may recall that this is a relatively small parcel of 0.5 acres fi'om which the City desires to obtain a 40 foot wide trail easement over the 125 foot length of the property !fronting on TH 47. Complicating this acquisition is the fact the septic drain field extends into the proposed easement as illustrated on the attached sketch. The option of relocating this septic system out of the desired easement would be extremely costly. Staffhas contacted the developer who has purchased the adjacent property to determine whether there was some interest in acquir_ing the subject property to include it in a redevelopment. Ms. Geving contacted me on October 21, 2004 indicating that she was aga'eeable to selling ~he easennent for $8,000 with' the actual trail avoiding the area of her septic field. The appraised value of' this easement is $6,200. .Recommendation: Staff t'ecommends accepting Ms. Geving's counteroffer in view of the facts that the acquisition price is reasonably close to the appraised value of the easement, the trail can be constructed within the constraints of the condition of avoiding the septic field, and the City has established completion of this trail a high phority. Staffis also recommending that the City Attorney review the easement document and make the necessary modification to allow the septic system to remain within the easement until such time as it needs to be replaced or the st~.tcture is co~anected to City sewer. Reviewed By: Director of Public Works/Fire Chief Assistant Public ·Works Director/Principal Engineer Parks/Utilities Supervisor City Attorney PW: l 1/16/04