Water board backs eminent domain to build West Greeley interceptor, lift station and force main

The Greeley City Water and Sewer Board voted to adopt a resolution authorizing acquisition of property by purchase or, if necessary, eminent domain to build an interceptor, force main and temporary lift station to serve the West Greeley sanitary sewer basin, staff said at the board’s Sept. 17 meeting.

City staff told the board the West Greeley interceptor project will support development in the West Greeley basin, including the Cascadia and Catalyst projects, and is intended to serve the entire basin over time. “The interceptor project is to serve that entire basin and not just the catalyst projects,” Katie, a water‑resources staff member, said.

The project design calls for a 30‑inch interceptor and a temporary lift station sized to carry expected flows for roughly the first 10 years of growth, staff said. Katie described the planned route as running from Highway 34 down the bluffs and across to the Windsor wastewater treatment plant area, with a lift station adjacent to Windsor’s plant so the city can later connect flows there once Windsor has capacity. “We are planning on running the interceptor to Highway 34,” Katie said. She told the board the best available point of connection back into Greeley’s system is at 9090 Fifth and Weld County Road 62½ (the current termination of the reputer trunk line).

Staff said Windsor currently lacks capacity to treat flows from the basin, so Greeley plans a temporary lift station and force main that could later be reused or partially repurposed once Windsor upgrades. “We are looking into options of how we can reuse this infrastructure,” Katie said. Board members asked about costs and sizing; staff said costs depend on size and configuration, and that the temporary lift station would not be built to the full long‑term capacity expected for the whole basin. One staff speaker described an expected ultimate basin flow of roughly 3,500,000 gallons per day, and said the temporary lift station is not being designed for that full ultimate capacity.

Staff told the board it will pursue easements and negotiate in good faith with property owners before using eminent domain; the project will require permanent easements roughly 30–45 feet wide along the interceptor alignment and construction easements for installation. The lift station site will most likely be purchased and must meet Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) access and maintenance requirements. “We will be using eminent domain only as a last resort,” Katie said.

Board member discussion noted the board’s past practice of attempting negotiations before eminent domain and described this authorization as a preparatory, procedural step. “This is just the first step of being ready,” one board member said, noting the board has infrequently pursued eminent domain in past projects but that preparedness avoids future delays. After discussion, a board member moved the resolution and it was seconded. The board then voted; the board chair called the question and the motion passed. The board’s action was recorded as adopting the enclosed resolution authorizing acquisition of interests in real property by purchase or through the power of eminent domain for the West Greeley interceptor, lift station, force main and associated facilities, and recommending city council authorize the same.

What happens next: staff will begin property outreach and negotiation with affected owners, prepare easement descriptions, and, if negotiations fail on particular parcels, may proceed to eminent domain for those parcels after council authorization and counsel review. The board and staff stressed eminent domain would be used only when necessary and after good‑faith negotiation.