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Council authorizes easements, property acquisitions for Terry Ranch water supply project
Summary
Council approved an ordinance authorizing negotiations and the exercise of eminent domain as needed to acquire rights for the Terry Ranch pipeline and associated infrastructure. Staff said the project has completed dozens of acquisitions and will continue to rely on negotiated easements, using eminent domain only as a last resort.
Greeley City Council adopted an ordinance authorizing acquisition of property interests, including fee title and easements, as needed to build the Terry Ranch potable water pipeline and associated treatment facilities. The action authorizes staff to continue negotiated purchases and, if necessary, exercise eminent domain for remaining parcels that cannot be acquired by agreement.
City water staff reported the Terry Ranch project is an extensive, multi‑phase pipeline and well‑field program that will ultimately extend roughly 30 miles to connect a north Platte Aquifer supply to Greeley’s Boyd treatment plant. Staff said the city has already acquired about 65 properties along the route and has used eminent domain in a small number of cases (three to date). The council heard staff explain two alignment adjustments to reduce environmental impacts and avoid a sewer disposal site; those adjustments require four additional authorizations.
Project acquisition practice emphasizes negotiated agreements, on‑site meetings with landowners, and use of standard permanent (50‑foot) and temporary (50‑foot) easement forms; staff said imminent domain is a last resort. Council Member Olson asked for clarification on remaining parcel counts and the scope of the easement requests; staff said the next stretch includes several large parcels and estimated the remaining number of parcels to be acquired in the next phases (roughly half the remaining route but fewer parcels due to larger holdings).
Council moved to adopt the ordinance authorizing acquisition and eminent domain as needed; the motion carried 6–0 with a roll call vote (Butler, Debuti, Hall, Peyton, Olson, McDonald voting aye). Staff said acquisition and design will continue, with property negotiations ongoing and eminent domain used only if negotiations fail.
