Richland County ad hoc panel approves condemnation to advance Broad River, Pineview and Brookfield projects

The Richland County Manufacturing ad hoc committee approved a request to begin condemnation proceedings to acquire right-of-way parcels needed for three transportation projects that were approved under the county’s 2012 transportation penny referendum.

The action authorizes staff to pursue condemnation for 48 parcels related to the Broad River Road widening (District 1), two parcels for the Pineview Road widening (District 10) and three parcels for the Brookfield Road sidewalk project (District 3). County staff said the acquisitions are necessary to move the projects into construction and that property owners will still be paid and may seek second-opinion appraisals and continue negotiations during the condemnation process.

Brown, a county staff member who presented the item, said the Broad River component includes the largest funding allocation: $1,724,779 set aside for right-of-way acquisition. He said $41,684 is budgeted for the Pineview Road parcels and $72,400 for the Brookfield Road sidewalk parcels. "This process does still allow for continued discussion, but this will allow us to move forward so that we can construct the projects," Brown said.

Director Maloney, the county transportation director, described the Broad River Road improvements that require acquisition. He said the project limits run from Dutch Fork Road to Bridal Tower and that the corridor will be widened to five lanes. "The entire scope will be 5 lanes, from Dutch Fork Road down to Bridal Tower," Maloney said. He added that two new traffic signals will be installed at Farming Creek and Royal Tower and that left- and right-turn lanes will be added at several intersections.

Committee members asked about notice to property owners. Brown said outside counsel will serve notices and property owners will have 30 days before any filing occurs. "There’s still an exchange of financial remuneration to the property owners," Brown said when asked whether owners would be paid.

In an informational update following the condemnation vote, Maloney reviewed the transportation program schedule. He said consultants are preparing preliminary scoring and that the county expects to present draft scores in October ahead of the Transportation Penny Advisory Committee meeting. He listed projects anticipated for bidding and award soon, including sidewalk work (listed in the meeting as the Rabbit Run sidewalk project and a Trenton Newcastle neighborhood improvement project), Hunt Club Road sidewalk, and the Broad River Road widening. Maloney also said two traffic-signal installations at Farming Creek and Broad River will enter construction in November and that a separate contract will place concrete caps over large-diameter water mains as part of related work.

The committee approved the condemnation request by roll call vote and also approved routine agenda items earlier in the meeting (minutes from the July 8 meeting and adoption of the agenda). The meeting adjourned after the transportation update.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve minutes from the July 8 meeting: motion passed (roll call recorded in transcript: Pugh — yes; Livingston — yes; Weaver — yes; Amin/Aline — yes; Mackie — yes). - Motion to adopt the meeting agenda: motion passed (roll call recorded in transcript: Pugh — yes; Livingston — yes; Weaver — yes; Aline — yes; Maki/Mackie — yes). - Motion to approve right-of-way acquisitions via condemnation for Broad River Road (48 parcels, District 1), Pineview Road (2 parcels, District 10) and Brookfield Road sidewalk (3 parcels, District 3): motion passed (roll call recorded in transcript: Pugh — yes; Livingston — yes; Weaver — yes; Aline — yes; Bakke/Mackie — yes). Funding noted in staff materials: $1,724,779 (Broad River), $41,684 (Pineview), $72,400 (Brookfield). - Motion to adjourn: passed (roll call recorded in transcript: Pugh — yes; Livingston — yes; Weaver — yes; Lean — yes; Mackie — yes).

Because the condemnation authorization is a procedural step to enable acquisition (not a final purchase), county staff stressed that property owners retain rights to appraisals and negotiation before any filing by outside counsel.

Ending The committee did not set a construction date in the meeting beyond staff’s stated aim to have Broad River projects out to bid and, when possible, awarded before year-end; specific award dates and construction schedules were described as subject to bidding and project review processes.