School staff seek authority to negotiate Poplar Hill road widening and sewer easements; eminent domain mentioned as possible step

Rutherford County School System engineering staff told the board April 9 that the new Poplar Hill school site requires Blackman Road to be widened to provide safe access. Staff said the county highway department will complete the portion of road widening beyond the school contractor’s responsibility and will fund that county work, but the district needs to acquire right‑of‑way easements along Blackman Road and sewer easements across several properties to connect sewer service to the school.

Mr. Reed described the project detail: the widened roadway will add a turn lane and an additional travel lane to handle school traffic, and the district is negotiating property acquisitions with affected landowners. Staff said the sewer tie will be a small sanitary sewer line serving only the school and will tie into a nearby manhole. District staff requested authority to start negotiations with property owners and to have the option to use eminent domain for easements if negotiations fail.

Board members asked whether the item only authorized negotiations; staff confirmed the request was for authority to begin negotiations with property owners. No formal acquisition or condemnation was approved at the work session; staff said they would return with any required legal steps and that the county highway department has agreed to perform and fund the road construction beyond the contractor’s limits.

Ending

Staff said they will proceed to negotiate easements and will report back to the board; if negotiations require condemnation, staff asked for prior authorization to pursue eminent domain for easements.