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Council approves easement purchase to build Patterson Road sidewalk over irrigation canal
Summary
The council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing purchase of interests in land and an agreement with the Grand Valley Irrigation Company (GVIC) that permits a public sidewalk and related facilities over a piped section of the Independent Ranchman's Ditch between 24½ and 25½ Road on Patterson Road.
The Grand Junction City Council unanimously adopted a resolution on April 16 authorizing the city to acquire easements and rights needed to build a 10‑foot sidewalk and planting strip over a section of the Independent Ranchman’s Ditch on Patterson Road.
Transportation and Engineering Director Trent Prahl told council the project covers the piped section between 24½ and 25½ Road and would use the city’s previously piped corridor. “Tonight we have a significant significant milestone here in our relationship with GVIC,” Prahl said, thanking the Grand Valley Irrigation Company’s board and staff and Mayor Herman for work rebuilding the relationship.
Prahl described a cross‑section of the proposal: a 10‑foot multiuse sidewalk with roughly 4‑foot shoulders to allow ditch riders to pull over at head gates, pedestrian‑level lighting, landscaping and pullouts at ditch head gates. The city previously invested in piping the ditch in 2008 and placed two 90‑inch pipes in the corridor, Prahl said.
City staff said the purchase price for GVIC’s interests is $400,000 and that the funds were included in the city’s 2025 budget. City Manager Mike Bennett and city attorneys reported the parties negotiated a construction and maintenance grant agreement; staff said the agreement was in substantially final form and execution would follow council approval.
Council members praised the outcome as a careful accommodation of GVIC’s irrigation delivery responsibilities while opening the corridor for pedestrian use. Mayor Herman and other councilmembers emphasized that the agreement applies only to this specific piped section and does not open all canal banks to public use.
A public speaker, who identified themself after the vote, thanked the city and GVIC for the agreement. Councilmember Stout moved the resolution and Councilmember Winn seconded; the motion passed 7–0.
