County staff: no response yet from property owners sought for AWOS site; survey next step

Commissioner Emory Howard asked county staff on Aug. 12 for an update on efforts to acquire land for an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS). Staff reported that two letters — sent both by certified and by regular mail — were mailed to the property owners but that the county has not received a response. "We mailed 2 letters out. We got no responses back from them," staff said. He said staff also left a business card after knocking on one door and that the next step is to obtain a survey and issue requests for quotes for the site. "We gotta get a survey of the site, and we've gotta issue requests for quotes for survey. So that's the next step," staff said. Howard said county representatives previously met with the postmaster and rode the site with staff; staff said they planned to continue outreach and to proceed with design work so that, if ownership is secured while design is underway, the county can move forward. There was no vote or formal authorization recorded; the exchange was an update and discussion of next steps. Staff said they had encouraged owners to cooperate with acquisition and that follow‑up letters and additional outreach would continue. No acquisition price or closing timetable was provided at the meeting.