Committee approves transfer of small parcel to Bethany Mennonite Church while retaining 75‑foot Highway P right‑of‑way

The Infrastructure Committee on June 5 voted unanimously to transfer a small parcel adjacent to Highway P to Bethany Mennonite Church on the condition that the church pay all associated costs, while the county retains a 75‑foot right‑of‑way measured from the road centerline for maintenance.

County staff told the committee the parcel came to light after Highway P was straightened decades ago and part of the church building and parking lot were found to sit on county property. Staff briefed members on options, including retaining the parcel with a licensing arrangement, or creating a new parcel and transferring it to the church. Staff recommended transferring the excess land while keeping the 75‑foot corridor for road maintenance.

“We could either retain the land and not do anything, and work with them through some type of draft agreement, or transfer that land and have the church do all the work — the leg work, the cost of the surveying — and we transfer that over to them,” county staff said during the presentation.

Under the approved option, the church will reimburse costs including title search, deed preparation, surveying, and closing expenses; the county will maintain the 75‑foot right‑of‑way. A motion to approve the transfer (option 3) was moved and seconded; the committee voted aye with no opposition.

Committee members discussed the low market value of the parcel and the county’s preference not to underwrite surveying costs for the church. Staff noted a neighbor parcel valuation figure provided by the assessor and reiterated that keeping 75 feet for right‑of‑way preserves maintenance access. The committee instructed staff to proceed with the transfer under the stated conditions.