Council directs staff to draft legislation to buy 25‑ft strip for Maumee Valley waterline crossing

Napoleon City Council on Sept. 2 authorized staff to move forward with drafting legislation to purchase a narrow strip of land from the Shoemaker family to accommodate a Maumee Valley waterline crossing.

City Engineer Chad Lopes told the council that, to cross the river and place the waterline, the city approached the Shoemaker family and offered to buy a roughly 1.26‑acre strip 25 feet wide. "The offer to them was for the purchase the the 1.26 plus or minus acres, that 25 foot wide strip," Lopes said, adding the total offer — which covered the purchase, a temporary easement behind the house and potential crop damage — was $27,000.

Lopes said the family did not want an easement across the property but were willing to sell the strip; behind the house the city would secure an additional 25‑foot temporary easement that would expire at the end of the project so equipment can be maneuvered safely. He said the county planner indicated that, while unusual, a 25‑foot strip for utility use has been allowed in past cases and the county was not opposing the approach. Staff noted that acquiring the property requires council approval to proceed with a purchase rather than an easement the city manager alone could sign.

Council members moved and seconded a motion to direct the law director to draft the appropriate legislation for purchase and related budget adjustments; the motion passed on a unanimous roll call. Chad thanked the Shoemaker family on the record for their cooperation.

Council and staff said budgeted funds exist for easements, but design and acquisition activity has created a modest shortfall in the $400,000 budgeted for the project; staff estimated the budget gap at roughly $27,000–$30,000. The city will complete legal descriptions and deeds, seek any required county approval, and return with formal legislation and final budget adjustments.