Clinton council authorizes Bluff Boulevard reconstruction, allows easements and possible eminent domain

The Clinton City Council on first adopted a resolution authorizing a public improvement project to reconstruct Bluff Boulevard between College Avenue and Seventh Avenue North and to acquire property and property interests by easement, purchase and, if necessary, eminent domain.

Councilmember Shimmers moved the resolution and the council approved it on a roll-call vote. City staff reported no written objections to the public hearing notice. Shimmers told colleagues she had spoken with property owners and said the city was not forcing sales: “We aren't taking anybody's property. We're offering them and they accepted people at a going rate,” she told the council.

Shimmers said the project uses standard Department of Transportation project language to preserve the city’s option to acquire interests if needed, and that most owners along the corridor had been “super cooperative” and were “very excited to get this road done in the next couple years.” A council member disclosed ownership of property at the corner of Fifth Avenue North and Bluff and noted the disclosure for the public record.

The resolution authorizes staff to pursue easements and purchases and preserves eminent domain as a last resort language typical for large right-of-way projects. City staff did not report any speakers at the public hearing and closed the hearing before the council vote.

Next steps include detailed design, property acquisitions and scheduling the construction work; the timeline discussed by council indicated the project is expected to proceed over coming years as right-of-way and design work advance.

Actions reported at the meeting included the resolution authorizing the Bluff Boulevard reconstruction, which the council adopted by roll-call vote.