Hooper — The City Council on Dec. 5 authorized the sale of a small sliver of city-owned land near 59100 West and 55100 South to allow a planned road alignment required to meet Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) standards.

A prospective purchaser (identified in the meeting as Brent, representing the buyer interest) told the council the strip would allow the road centerline to align across adjacent properties and said the parcel is small — approximately 15 to 20 feet wide and about 100 to 120 feet long, or roughly 2,400 square feet in an estimated maximum. He proposed an appraisal-based price, a short-term conveyance for the road construction, and then a deed back to the city for the road right-of-way when appropriate.

City public works staff and legal counsel told the council the sale should be documented with a legal description, an appraisal by an unbiased third party and a formal agreement prepared by the city attorney. Public works staff noted that any utilities that must be relocated or other infrastructure costs would be the buyer’s responsibility under the proposed terms.

Council member Flowers moved to authorize the sale subject to the conditions Reed (city attorney) and public works staff outlined; Council member Wilcox seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote with no opposition recorded.

Why it matters: The parcel is a narrow strip located between a private residence and the city’s vacuum/lift station. Conveying that strip to the adjacent owner and then re-deeding the necessary right-of-way will allow the city and UDOT to construct a straighter roadway alignment while preserving access and accommodating utilities, staff said.

What’s next: Staff will complete a legal description, obtain an appraisal, draft a purchase-and-reconveyance agreement and return to council with the final documents and recorded legal descriptions before closing.