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Supervisors approve small right‑of‑way payments to advance Burdett Road, related state‑aid projects
Summary
The Washington County Board approved county-administered payments totaling a few thousand dollars to acquire tiny parcels needed for state‑aid road projects on Burdett Road and other routes, and authorized staff to complete required paperwork for state aid letting.
The Washington County Board of Supervisors approved county payments to acquire small right‑of‑way parcels needed to move state‑aid road projects toward letting, and authorized county staff to complete the paperwork required by state aid rules.
County staff reported the county needs small strips of land to complete projects identified as LSBP/SABP work on Burdett Road (LSBP 7631) and adjacent segments. The board approved issuing county checks to three landowners: Harry Brant Land Company for $232, TGM Land Company for $2,720, and Merrell Planning Company for $312. The payments were described at the meeting as intended to match recent nearby sale values and keep the projects on the state‑aid timeline. The board voted to authorize the county administrator to sign the checks and proceed; the motion carried.
County staff told the board that state aid rules require appraisal and review appraisals when the county’s intended payment to acquire property exceeds $5,000. Staff said hiring an appraiser plus a review appraiser for parcels that exceed that threshold typically costs about $10,000 total, which the department considered disproportionate for very small parcels (examples given: 0.029 acre at $8,000 per acre equals about $232). For parcels where the purchase price is expected to remain below $5,000, staff said appraisals are not required under state aid rules.
Staff also updated the board on remaining pre‑construction items: one outstanding wetlands report and additional cultural resource checks requested by federal reviewers. Those items must be cleared before the county may advertise the projects for bids. Staff said they had asked state aid for a timing extension to avoid rescission of available funds while the county completes the required clearances.
The board’s action directs staff to process the right‑of‑way deeds and transmittal letters required by state aid. County staff said the county attorney will later provide the certification of acquisition complying with state‑aid rules.
The decisions are intended to allow the county to advertise the projects once outstanding environmental and cultural clearances are delivered to state aid.
