County staff urges Public Service Commission to use existing right-of-way for Hartford–Jackson water/sewer connector

Staff alerted the committee to a proposed Hartford–Jackson pipeline/connector project and encouraged the committee to comment during the public input period, which staff said closed the following day.

Jamie and highway staff described three potential corridor options labeled in the presentation as routes A, B and C. Staff and the highway commissioner recommended that the utility connector be sited in existing public right-of-way rather than through new easements across private or county-owned lands adjacent to Washington County Fair Park. The county presenter said route A would cross the backside of Fair Park, near the RV campground and stage area, and preferred that the utility follow the perimeter (routes B or C) or be placed within public right-of-way to reduce impacts on county property and future expansion options.

Linda, speaking for the Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation, told the committee the northern route would traverse seven to nine tax parcels owned by the foundation and the southern route would cross two parcels in conservation easement, and asked that the utility avoid foundation properties and farmland enrolled in federal conservation programs. The highway commissioner and other supervisors echoed a preference to minimize new easements through private or conservation lands and to use publicly owned corridors where feasible. The packet included instructions for filing public comments, and staff said the county intended to submit written comments requesting route alternatives that follow public right-of-way.

Ending

Staff encouraged supervisors with local concerns to file individual comments and indicated the county will submit a formal comment expressing preference for routes that use existing right‑of‑way rather than new easements through private or conservation lands.