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Johnston County authorizes resolution to pursue condemnation for Buffalo Road force‑main easements
Summary
The board adopted a resolution authorizing staff to pursue condemnation, if necessary, to acquire public‑utility easements from four properties for the Buffalo Road Parallel Force Main project that will divert wastewater from Selma and Pine Level to the new 210 wastewater treatment plant.
Johnston County commissioners on Sept. 2 adopted a resolution authorizing staff to pursue condemnation, if necessary, to acquire small public‑utility easements needed for the Buffalo Road Parallel Force Main project.
County staff told the board that negotiators have secured most of the necessary conveyances for the project but remain in talks over easements on four parcels: 1553 Buffalo Road, 1791 Buffalo Road, 1755 Buffalo Road and 2117 Buffalo Road. The county seeks limited public‑utility easements for the 16‑inch force main, not full property acquisitions; staff cited an example easement of about 683 square feet at 2117 Buffalo Road.
"We're not talking about a lot of property that we need, but we don't have enough room in the right of way, so we need a little bit of additional property," a county staff member said. The board was told the project is important for system resiliency and to meet contractual obligations and public‑health needs by moving flow to the new 210 wastewater treatment plant.
County staff asked for authority to follow the statutory condemnation process if negotiations failed. Under state law, staff would be required to send a 30‑day notice and continue to negotiate; the board’s resolution would allow condemnation to proceed only as a last resort. Commissioners approved the resolution after a motion and a second; no votes against were recorded.
Board members asked clarifying questions about the primary points of dispute with landowners; staff identified the price per acre (valuation) as the main contention on the remaining parcels. Staff said they preferred negotiated conveyances but requested condemnation authority because of timing constraints and the project’s importance.
The resolution gives staff authority to issue the 30‑day notices and, if necessary, file eminent‑domain actions to acquire the specific public‑utility easements required to construct the force main. Staff said condemnation would be used only if negotiations could not reach agreement within that timeframe.
The board approved the resolution by voice vote; the item was recorded as carried. Staff will proceed with required notices and continued negotiation on the four remaining easements.
