Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities And Easements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council debates allowing Black Hills Energy to shift gas main in Rob Roy Park easement
Summary
Rawlins staff brought a request from Black Hills Energy to install a new gas main and later extend a utilities easement through Rob Roy Park; council asked for more detail and signaled preference to review survey coordinates before approving any easement expansion.
City staff informed the Rawlins City Council on June 17 that Black Hills Energy proposes to replace an aging steel gas main near Rob Roy Park and asked for permission to install a new line now and return later with a recorded easement map.
Cody, a public-works staff member, said Black Hills found a steel segment they plan to abandon in place and would like to install a new polyethylene main slightly offset from the existing yellow-easement line to avoid trees and other utilities. Black Hills requested a “good-faith go-ahead” to install the line immediately and survey and document the exact easement coordinates afterward.
Several council members and City Attorney Mayberry voiced concerns about approving work before the city receives the final survey. Questions included how far the new line would lie from the existing easement corner, potential impacts on park irrigation and mature trees, franchise-holder rights and whether Black Hills would cover outside legal costs to address easement and franchise questions. Attorney Mayberry said franchise agreements require utilities to repair or remediate damages and recommended the city obtain precise maps and recorded easement descriptions before authorizing any permanent easement expansion.
Black Hills staff told the city they would provide final maps after completing the service-line phase, likely by the end of next summer; the company also agreed to patch street surfaces when work is done. Council asked staff to collect more details and suggested a special meeting or informational session if necessary; they did not vote to expand the easement at the June 17 meeting.
