Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use And Parks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Waterville renews lease, agrees to higher fee to keep control of nearly 30 acres of rail corridor
Summary
The city approved a renewed lease with Norfolk Southern for 29.83 acres of railroad right‑of‑way used as parkland, agreeing to an annual payment increase to $29,000 to maintain control of the corridor that crosses local parks and roads.
Waterville — The city council approved a renewal of the city’s lease with Norfolk Southern Railway on July 28, accepting an increased annual payment so the city can retain control of nearly 30 acres of railroad property that crosses Conrad and Bear parks.
City staff told council the leased corridor covers approximately 1.7 miles of rail right‑of‑way (29.83 acres), stretching from Mile Post 15 west of Farnsworth Road to Mile Post 3.13 south of Dutch Road. The previous annual payment was $19,000; Norfolk Southern asked the city to increase the lease payment to $29,000 per year.
City administrator John Gokenhauer said the city has leased the corridor for about a decade with the intent of maintaining public access and control over the inactive corridor. “The track’s maintained. It’s inspected. So it could be brought back into service, at any time,” Gokenhauer told council, adding that continued lease control preserves options for future shared‑use paths or other park‑related development.
Under the renewal, the lease has no long fixed term but includes a 90‑day cancellation provision, staff said. Council members noted the potential for rail activity in the future and said retaining the corridor under lease was preferable to ceding control.
Council voted to authorize the administrator to execute the renewed lease at the higher annual rate so the city can continue to control and manage the corridor for park uses and future trail connections. Staff said the city may later pursue partnerships with Lucas County and Metroparks for shared projects along the corridor.
Ending: The council approved the lease renewal in a recorded motion; the city will continue to manage the corridor while exploring longer‑term options and potential partnerships.
