Council settles easement issues for new water line
Posted on Saturday, June 28, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/63259/
PEA RIDGE — Two property issues were resolved in Pea Ridge on Friday afternoon, helping to pave the way for the city to add a water line.
The Pea Ridge City Council held a special meeting Friday to discuss two ongoing easement issues, which included Jay, Okla., resident Bob Bolain seeking a total of $ 48, 000 for 1. 59 acres, an increase in the price initially discussed. “ I figure it’s worth that, ” he said of the $ 48, 000.
A recent appraisal conducted on behalf of the city disagreed, however. The appraised value for the land was $ 28, 300.
“ I would like to find a happy medium, ” Councilman Brian Nave said of the negotiations.
But Bolain then made another offer to the council — he would knock $ 15, 000 from the asking price if the council agreed to place his name on the water tower.
None of the present council members were enthusiastic about the idea of having a person’s name placed on the city’s water tower, especially since money would be changing hands and the land was not being donated.
Bolain, a native of the area who said he plans to move back at some point, said, “ Let’s drop the name deal and just deal with money. ”
Still, there was a large discrepancy between the appraised price and the asking price. Deputy City Attorney Andrew Huntsinger said that if the issue goes to court, it would be costly for both sides and that in the end, a jury would be likely to split the difference.
The council voted to pay $ 35, 000 for the property, with Bolain donating the easements.
The second issue involved trees that will need to be removed from an easement for the water line being granted by Jac’s Ranch. There are more than 40 trees that might need to be removed or are at risk of dying if the water line is placed near them. The initial asking price was $ 1, 000 per tree. With 34 trees expected to be removed, that would be $ 34, 000.
Nave said he spoke with a forestry organization to find out if that was a fair price. He was told that removal of the trees would normally cost about $ 36, 000.
Council members discussed the potential issue of it not being necessary to remove all of the trees. The proposed contract called for the money to be paid up front. That’s when the city’s utilities manager, Ken Hayes, responded. He told the council that even if some of the trees aren’t removed immediately to make way for the water line, some will probably die later because of damage.
The council decided to look at the deal from a different perspective — as a $ 34, 000 cost to get a right of way instead of as a cost for a certain number of trees. By paying the money, council members said, they would get the right of way and rid themselves of any potential liability for deciding on which trees should or shouldn’t be removed. That liability would rest with the contractor.
In other Pea Ridge-related news, Mayor Jackie Crabtree said he’s looking into several possibilities for keeping a medical clinic in the city.
Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas announced in a press release Wednesday that Mercy would close the Pea Ridge Medical office in July or early August.