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County engineers ask board to approve seven easements for Garlock Road culvert replacement
Summary
Public Works reported it has obtained four permanent and three temporary easements needed to proceed with the Garlock Road culvert replacement — a fish-barrier removal project funded largely by the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board.
County Engineer Susan Eugeneus presented seven easement instruments to the board required for the Garlock Road culvert replacement: four permanent easements and three temporary easements. Eugeneus said the existing box culvert is undersized and blocks fish passage and that the project received 85% reimbursable funding through the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board.
“We have pursued funding. We've received grama funding to both design and reconstruct the replacement. It's through the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board. So, it's an 85% reimbursable contract,” Eugeneus said.
Eugeneus explained the distinction between permanent and temporary easements: permanent easements grant long-term rights for the road prism and slope maintenance, while temporary easements provide construction access (for example, to access the creek bed and return the property to its prior condition after work is complete). She said the county uses independent appraisers and allows property owners to hire an independent appraisal up to a statutory allotment during negotiations.
When Eugeneus asked for authorization for the county engineer to sign the easement documents, the chair gave an informal approval, described in the record as a nod and the engineer said she would bring the documents through the consent agenda for formal ratification.
Nut graf: The easements clear a necessary legal step so the county can move from design into construction on a culvert replacement intended to restore fish passage; the project is largely grant-funded, but permanent easements create a long-term county right-of-way footprint.
Eugeneus said two of the permanent easements are slope easements and three are temporary site-access easements for foundation work in the creek bed; she emphasized the county would restore temporary areas after construction. The meeting record notes staff will include the easements on the consent agenda for board ratification.
Ending: The board granted the county engineer authority to sign the easements informally and staff will place the easements on the consent agenda for a formal vote and signature.
