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Council approves engineering and land-purchase agreements to move Courthouse Road project forward
Summary
The council authorized an engineering services contract and the purchase of fee interests needed to extend Merrill Lane as part of a Courthouse Road project; staff said environmental surveys cleared key vernal-pool questions and the land deals remain within projected budget.
The Ellsworth City Council on Tuesday authorized staff to hire engineering and surveying services and to pursue fee acquisitions needed to create a public roadway extension (Merrill Lane) tied to the planned courthouse relocation project.
The council voted to authorize an engineering contract with Andrew McCullough Engineering for design and engineering services not to exceed $96,650 to support the Merrill Lane public roadway design. Council members said awarding the work to a local firm offered advantages in local knowledge.
Separately the council authorized staff to enter into contract agreements to acquire fee interest rights and associated easements from property owners (the Adams and Merrill parcels) for an amount not to exceed $215,000, to be funded from local roads capital funds. Manager Pierce reported the city completed environmental surveying and found that the two large circles flagged in early reviews were not jurisdictional vernal pools, reducing a major permitting obstacle.
Councilors and staff framed the work as a step toward unlocking adjacent development potential and aligning with broader economic development and TIF planning around High Street. Staff emphasized that the state and the Wardwell property transaction remain central to timing; the council asked staff to finalize agreements and return with formal closings and documents for ratification as required.
