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Commissioners approve easement payments, condemnation resolution and $100,000 stormwater settlement
Summary
In executive session and following public votes, Columbia County approved several right-of-way easement payments for road projects, a friendly condemnation resolution for Hereford Farm Road, and a $100,000 settlement in a stormwater lawsuit split between the county and ACG.
The Columbia County Board of Commissioners approved multiple right-of-way and easement payments tied to county road projects, authorized a declaration of taking by condemnation for part of Hereford Farm Road, and approved a settlement agreement resolving a stormwater lawsuit.
During the meeting the chair moved to approve payments to obtain right-of-way or easements for the Hereford Farm Road widening project: $15,000 to Marie Hennen (Parcel 60044); $30,300 to Orville and Juma Lake (Parcel 67097); $16,500 to Gordon and Lana Johnson (Parcel 072B055); $12,000 to Larry and Mary Matt (Parcel 072B054); and $11,600 to Betty Burge (partial Parcel 072B043). A commissioner described these as “standard negotiations for the Hereford Farm Road project” and said the project was 64% complete.
The board approved Resolution 205-11, a Declaration of Taking and order by condemnation for portions of Tax Map 067C3802 and 067C071 to improve, widen, pave, align and maintain Hereford Farm Road. Planning staff identified the parcels as owned by Farmington Estates Property Owners Association and described the action as a “friendly condemnation” because the HOA’s bylaws prevent it from signing the documents; the resolution allows the court to clear title on their behalf.
The board also approved $12,800 to Donald and Kathy Wagner, Parcel 062037, for right-of-way or easements for the Chamberlain Horizon Connector project. A separate motion approved a settlement agreement in a longstanding stormwater suit involving Willeen Satcher as executor of the estate of William W. Satcher, Columbia Road Professional Center Owners Association, Inc., and Pierwood Investment Corporation. The settlement totals $100,000; the transcript records that half will be paid by ACG and half by the county, and that the county will receive a stormwater easement from the property owner.
Why it matters: The payments and condemnation clear obstacles to county road projects and the settlement closes litigation that reached the Supreme Court of Georgia. The condemnation was framed as “friendly” because the HOA cannot sign under its bylaws, requiring a court order to complete the right-of-way transfer.
