The St. Cloud City Council on Jan. 9 approved Resolution 2025‑012R to buy about 3.25 acres of property on Nolte Road for $959,865 to support the planned Orange Avenue extension.

Bismarck Labreu, strategic initiative administrator, told the council the parcel included about 2.28 acres proposed for right‑of‑way and roughly 0.97 acres for a stormwater pond, plus two temporary 10‑foot construction easements. The contract includes nonmonetary conditions requested by the sellers: the city will construct agricultural cattle fencing and maintain two existing proposed access points from Orange Avenue into the Furdick family property, Labreu said.

Jeram Frederick, speaking for the Furdick family, thanked the council and described ongoing cattle operations on the property. "We wanna work with the city as it grows," Frederick said, noting the purchase’s impact on how the family moves cattle and hay across the ranch. He asked that the council and staff treat longstanding residents and small agricultural businesses with consideration when roads and easements are adjusted.

Council members and staff discussed related right‑of‑way vacations on adjacent parcels. City Manager Miller said vacations contain additional survey, title and advertising costs and that staff had separated the vacation work from the purchase in order to close by the developer’s March 2025 deadline. Council and staff reached consensus during the meeting to waive the city application fee for right‑of‑way vacation applications submitted by the family; the city stressed that staff cannot waive private survey and title costs and that full vacation processes still require staff review.

The purchase motion, moved by Council member Paul and seconded by Council member Urban, passed on a 5–0 roll call. Staff recommended the purchase to meet a timeline in an agreement with the Rome Bridge subdivision, where the developer had conditioned project sequencing on the city acquiring this segment of right‑of‑way.

What happens next

Staff will complete the closing and record deeds as provided in the purchase agreement and coordinate with the Rome Bridge developer on design and access points. The Furdick family and city staff will continue to discuss potential right‑of‑way vacations and staff will advise on the survey, title and advertising steps required for a vacation application. The city’s waiver applies to the city application fee only; external costs remain the responsibility of the applicant.

Vote: Resolution 2025‑012R was approved on a 5–0 roll call (Deputy Mayor Fletcher, Council members Paul, Urban, Gilbert and Mayor Robertson — all aye).