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Council approves purchase of small parcel for Tidewater Reservoir replacement, authorizes $22,000 deal
Summary
Brookings authorized a resolution and purchase agreement to buy a small parcel from George Fitzhugh for $22,000 to site two new 74,000-gallon drinking water reservoirs; staff said the parcel was recently appraised at $10,000 but recommended purchase at $22,000 for utility use.
The Brookings City Council on July 28 adopted a resolution (recorded in the meeting packet as Resolution 25-R-1283) and authorized the city manager to execute a real estate purchase agreement with George Fitzhugh to secure a parcel for replacing the existing Tidewater Reservoir.
Staff said the existing above-ground concrete reservoir is leaking and has limited capacity and that associated water lines in the area do not provide required fire protection; the fire department currently relies on tanker support for fires in the neighborhood. The project scope includes constructing two new 74,000-gallon reservoirs and installing a new 8-inch water line to provide sufficient fire flow for the served residential area.
Staff told council the Fitzhugh property is currently covered by a small easement; the owner proposed either a 15-year easement with annual CPI-based payments or an outright purchase of the parcel for $22,000. An April 2025 appraisal listed the parcel value at $10,000; staff recommended purchasing the parcel for $22,000 because of its strategic value to the water system and to avoid future easement negotiations.
A motion to adopt Resolution 25-R-1283 and authorize the real estate purchase agreement with George Fitzhugh passed; the audio transcript records yes votes from Councilor Martin, Councilor Monfort and Mayor Hodges and the motion carried.
Staff noted the Tidewater Reservoir replacement was listed as a high-priority item in the 2014 Water Master Plan and that the overall drinking-water revolving loan fund award (received in August 2021) funded multiple water infrastructure projects, with the Tidewater Reservoir replacement being the final project associated with that loan award.
