Council sets Oct. 31 deadline for property owners to remove alley encroachments; survey to precede grading

Milford City Council directed staff Sept. 16 to notify property owners who have encroached on the alley between 600 West and 700 West to remove their improvements by Oct. 31 and to prepare for grading the alley once a professional survey is completed.

At a prior meeting the council considered an ordinance related to the alley and received public comment from affected neighbors. Staff reported the alley was accepted as part of the original subdivision and that the city has a duty to maintain the alley right-of-way. A survey by South Central (survey firm) was in progress and staff said the survey would be shared with the council when complete; the council agreed grading should not begin until the survey is available.

Councilmember Russell moved — and the council voted — to give property owners a certified-letter notice requiring removal of encroachments by Oct. 31. Staff will provide details of when grading will begin after the survey is complete and after the council determines whether to have city crews perform the work or to put the job out for bid. The council discussed timing so that grading would not be set immediately (to allow owners adequate time) but gave Oct. 31 as the removal deadline to create a clear schedule in the coming weeks.

The council also instructed staff to coordinate the grading timeline with crew availability or to solicit competitive bids if the city cannot schedule the work within its labor calendar.