County Approves Easements for Merc Gas Line Upgrade at Graham Park
Commissioners unanimously reserved right-of-way along County Road 146 while granting Merc utility easements for interior park streets, ensuring future relocation costs fall to the utility.
County commissioners unanimously approved a package of property agreements allowing Merc to proceed with a utility line improvement project through Graham Park, while reserving the county's ability to widen an adjacent roadway in the future without shouldering relocation costs.
The action approved a resolution reserving additional area in Graham Park for County Road 146 right-of-way, and granted formal easements to Merc for the 15th Street Southeast and Anie Drive Southeast portions of the project, both interior streets within the park.
The distinction between the two mechanisms was a central point of discussion. Along Third Avenue Southeast, also known as County Road 146, the county opted not to grant a formal easement but instead to reserve rights for its public works department.
I'm not going to characterize it as an easement, but basically a reservation of rights that you're giving to the county public works department that effectively gives them more or less the same powers that they would have of an easement, but it's not a formal grant of an easement, which will allow them to control that area.
Future costs shifted to utility
Kanan told commissioners the arrangement protects taxpayers if the county later decides to expand the roadway and the gas line must be moved.
If Merc ever, um, if the county ever needs to expand Third Avenue Southeast and it causes the need for Merc to have to move their gas line down the road in the future, it will be done at Merc's expense rather than the county's expense.
Other Topics from This Document
Annual Medical Examiner's Report
Energy Production Challenges and Clean Energy Mandates
Special Olympics and University of Minnesota Extension Committee Updates
Want to know when new stories arrive?
Enter your email to receive updates.
We will not use your email for any other purpose. You can unsubscribe at any time.