The Board of Aldermen heard a reading of Council Bill 30 directing city staff to acquire necessary temporary and permanent easements to construct stormwater mains (15–48 inches) for the Baggerdite stormwater drainage improvement project.

Patty (staff member) and Alex (staff member) told the board the ordinance is a statutory step to declare the public need for right-of-way and easements and that, after the ordinance, the city will file a petition in Cass County District Court to obtain outstanding easements. "This ordinance is just kind of the step as far as declaring what the public need is for this imminent domain," Patty said. Patty said many easements have already been acquired but a few remain.

Board action: The item was read and will return for consideration at the June 16 meeting; staff said the next step after ordinance passage would be filing a petition to acquire temporary and permanent easements in Cass County District Court where negotiations are not successful.

Why it matters: The easements are necessary to build stormwater sewer mains, 15 to 48 inches in diameter, as part of Baggerdite drainage improvements. Staff did not provide property owner names in the public record at the meeting and declined to discuss negotiation details in open session.

Next steps: The ordinance will come back on June 16 for board consideration and the city may proceed with legal petitioning for easements where owners do not consent.